Thursday, June 21, 2018

The Little Giants Band

The Little Giants is a jazz band based out of the Cape Flats that was established in 1999. Duncan Johnson is the band's saxophonist and bass player.

His love of music began in Church. He began playing the drums but has since discovered his preferred instrument, the saxophone. One memory he recalled of his early music interest was playing a song to his grandmother, which left her in tears because his grandfather had also been a saxophonist. Duncan played that same song live in the Bush Radio studio.

Duncan Johnson

Aside from his role in The Little Giants, Duncan also plays solo gigs and stated that the other members do the same. When asked what his favourite song is to cover, he chose Alicia Key's "If I Ain't Got You." However, he also composes his own music. When not composing or performing, he teaches music, both at schools and privately. He revealed that the reason he enjoys making music is "to make the world a better place."

The Little Giants, a band consisting of about 18-20 musical instruments, released its first and only album in 2006. On Sunday the 24th of June, they are performing at South Peninsula High School, on the corner of Old Kendal Road and Azalea Street in Diep River from 4 PM to 6:30 PM. Tickets cost  R80 per person, and the proceeds of the event will fund an effort to send Little Giants to the 2018 Standard Bank International Grahamstown Jazz Festival.

To contact Little Giants call, SMS or send a WhatsApp message to 078 162 5151, or email petchtm@gmail.com. You can also find the band on Facebook @the.little.giants.band. Duncan's social media is @PetchSax.

- Allyssa Peters

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