Cape Town Big Band Jazz Festival

FOUNDED IN 1999 by the Late Dennis Barr

The Festival is a community outreach project in support of music education in big band jazz for school and college students. Proceeds from the Festival go towards a scholarship in the jazz studies programme at SA College of Music, sponsorship to the Beau Soleil Music for Africa Trust as well as the sponsorship of a music teacher at Manenberg High School for their Steelband Project, donations to participating bands and other music initiatives.
Musical instruments have been donated to Beau Soleil Africa Trust, Athlone Music Academy, York Road Primary School, Lansdowne, as well as Eluxolweni Primary School, Khayelitsha.

provides an opportunity for young musicians to display their talents to a knowledgeable and appreciative audience at a prestigious event. And to assess their performance by comparison with the other bands in a non-competitive environment.

encourages young musicians, presently at a primary and secondary level, to develop their talents through further education at tertiary level, leading to a career in music.

assists in widening young people’s participation in playing a style of music familiar to their culture across the community.

reflects a world-wide resurgence in popularity of the big band swinging sound of exponents such as, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Gerry Bosman and so on.

promotes awareness of the big band jazz style, gaining young fans and reviving fond memories of the swing era for many older fans.

attracts growing support from the business and public community.

associated with and supported by the S.A. College of Music.