Unisa Big Band at the 2020 Unisa International Piano Competition

Abstract

I founded the Unisa Big Band in 2018. The ensemble is currently comprised of some of Gauteng’s foremost jazz artists but also includes some young jazz musicians who are part of the Unisa Music Foundation’s community engagement project. To date, the ensemble has performed at some of the most prestigious events in Pretoria, most notably as the anchor big band for the Unisa Jazz Festival. Some significant national and international artists who have performed with the ensemble include: Artvark Saxophone Quartet (Netherlands), Fabrizio Savino (Italy), Gloria Bosman (SA), McCoy Mrubata (SA), Linda Sikhakhane (SA), Bokani Dyer (SA), Vuma Levin (SA) and several other outstanding jazz musicians. In 2020, the ensemble was scheduled to accompany Denny Euprasert (Thailand), Vitaliy Kis (Russia) and artists from Belgium. Unfortunately, due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the festival was cancelled.

Since establishing the ensemble in 2018, I have functioned as the director of the Unisa Big Band and also lead alto saxophonist. My duties include but are not limited to: • Booking concerts for ensemble • Booking musicians to supplement the ensemble when some of our regular musicians are unavailable • Selecting music for the ensemble • Commissioning the arranging of new music and South African works for the ensemble • Rehearsing the ensemble • Running sectional rehearsals of the saxophone section • Managing all finances of the ensemble via my office which includes payment of all artists • Managing all marketing and promotion of the ensemble.

In 2020, the Unisa Big Band was invited by the competition organising committee to perform at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Unisa International Piano Competition. This ceremony was held at the ZK Matthews Hall with approximately 700 people in attendance. Attendees included members of the Diplomatic Corps including the Ambassadors and support staff of over 20 embassies based in Pretoria, Dr Thabo Mbeki – former President of South Africa and current President of the Unisa International Music Competitions, 30 of the world’s premier jazz and classical pianists who were selected to perform in the 14th Unisa International Piano Competition, 10 jury members from across the world, some of whom were Grammy winners and others (internationally recognised concert pianists and jazz pianists who have performed with some of the world’s most prestigious jazz musicians), members of the South African Music Industry, members of Government including ministers, some of South Africa’s foremost jazz and classical artists based in Gauteng and many of our country’s leading jazz and classical teachers and performers.

The Unisa Big Band performed a selection of works ranging from well-known jazz standards (big band arrangements) such as Misty, On Green Dolphin Street and Love for Sale, to South African works such as Blues for a Hip King, Koukouwa and The Wedding. I had commissioned the South African works to be arranged for the Unisa Big Band and premiered at this concert. The Unisa Big Band also accompanied vocalists Tshepo Tshabalala and Daniella Hart who were 1st and 2nd place winners of Unisa’s 2017 National Voice Competition respectively (jazz category). As director of the Unisa Big Band, I rehearsed the ensemble prior to this performance, selected the repertoire and managed the performance (directing the ensemble) including managing all technical aspects of the performance – overseeing sound test, lighting, audio and video recording. In addition to my duties as the ensemble director I performed as lead alto saxophonist which included leading the saxophone section and taking solos (improvising) on all the pieces that called for alto saxophone solos. I also commissioned the big band arrangement of “The Wedding” and featured on this tune.

This performance of the Unisa Big Band was streamed live and also formed part of the broadcast on MNET/DSTV during the subsequent broadcast of the 14th Unisa International Piano Competition.