The Little Giants band has launched a jazz music CD, paying tribute to late jazz musicians.
The band was formed in 1999 and released their first CD in 2006.
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, they hadn’t met for two years but in April this year they decided to work on another CD named Songs of Our Fathers, which was launched on Sunday September 18, at the Nassau Theatre Centre in Newlands.
The CD includes music of past South African jazz musicians from Lansdowne, Athlone, Bridgetown, Elsies River, Mandalay, Delft and more areas, said band member Dane Paris.
“Our CD has eight tunes that pay homage to great South African artists. The big band is the longest-running community music youth group in Cape Town; it has assisted the development of more than 250 youth, many who have graduated into successful performers in their own right, Sisonke Xonti, Luanda Gogwana, Shaun Johannes, to name a few,” he said.
The band consists of music students and graduates from the University of Cape Town’s South African School of Music, and high school pupils. They have played on various big stages and also toured in Europe.
Music director George Werner said challenges in making the CD included limited studio time as they had only had two days to make the CD as well as members walking in and out of the band.
“Sixteen artists feature in the CD and it really gives tribute to jazz artists who have recently passed on. I don’t have a favourite track because all of them are my favourite,” he said.
Duncan Johnson, who plays the saxophone, described the CD as a “comforting goema CD which feels like home.” He said that he wanted people to know that their history and heritage was important and something to be proud of.
“My favourite track would be difficult to name but it probably is tula sana,” he said.
The CD Songs of Our Fathers sells for R150 each and can be bought by contacting Little Giants on Facebook and Instagram.