UCT Big Band Heritage Day Celebration, 2025 UCT Jazz Festival

UCT Big Band Heritage Day Celebration 2025 UCT Jazz Festival Baxter Concert Hall 24 September 2025 Directed by Justin Bellairs The UCT Big Band has been part of Cape Town’s jazz scene for more than thirty years, having maintained a consistently high standard of performance to date. It is one of the few performing groups in South Africa to concentrate on the most contemporary sounds in modern big band jazz, and bringing the full big band sound to South African music. The group regularly features singers from the jazz programme. The typical concert repertoire will feature a variety of big band jazz ranging from classic swing to the most contemporary jazz/rock and Latin fusion styles, including original material arranged by notable South African jazz composers and arrangers. DEDICATED TO SAMUEL KRUGER : Sam Kruger has been a constant pillar of strength in the College, in a quiet way. Since his early days as a general departmental worker, one could rely on him for solutions to all manner of problems, within the perceived scope of his duties or otherwise. In establishing Jazz Studies beginning 1989, we walked a long road together. His help and friendship was invaluable to me, given my limited institutional knowledge and experience at that time. Over the years we worked on college concerts, UCT Big Band tours, festivals and outside gigs too many to recall: whether dealing with technical or human issues, his comprehensive ability and good nature was a source of confidence for everyone involved. Sammy has been much more than a colleague to me for over thirty years, through good and some difficult times. It’s been a pleasure, and I wish him all the best joining me in retirement. MIKE CAMPBELL MC Alden Clapper PROGRAMME Big Dipper Composed by Thad Jones Sugar Shake Composed by Errol Dyers Arranged by Darryl Andrews Featuring Cole Krieling Guitar Bayathetha Composed by Nomfundo Xaluva-Dyantyis Arranged by Mike Campbell Featuring Kgoerano Lebambo Vocals Renaissance Man Composed by George Whitty Arranged by Katy Racionzer Utopian Sunset Composed by Darryl Andrews Featuring Aviwe Macutwana Trombone Thou Swell Composed by Lorenz Hart & Richard Rogers Arranged by Bill Holman Featuring Sazi Tshwele Vocals Sermon Composed by Mike Campbell Yehlisan’umoya Composed by Busi Mhlongo Arranged by Amanda Tiffin Featuring Siya Kawana Vocals A Children’s Song Composed by Bob Mintzer I Can’t Believe That You’re in Love With Me Composed by Clarence Gaskill & Jimmy McHugh Arranged by Darmon Meader Featuring The UCT Jazz Voices Smack Dab In The Middle Composed by Charles E. Calhoun Arranged by Darmon Meader Featuring The UCT Jazz Voices