SUNCOAST PRESENTS SAX, BLUES & ROCK ‘N ROLL WITH ANDREW YOUNGHailed as the Prince of the Saxophone, acclaimed jazz saxophonist Andrew Young and his band of South African musicians will  perform their 10-night show Sax, Blues & Rock ‘n Roll at the SunZone at Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World from  22 April to 2 May. The show is an eclectic mix of blues and rock `n roll, including the well loved song Baker Street. “It promises to be an awesome show with some great music played by fantastic musicians, both local and international. I can’t wait,” says Young in his personally recorded YouTube invitation to audiences. Born in Liverpool, England and now residing in Vienna, Austria, Young has performed across the globe to audiences as far afield as  Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, China, Turkey and Tunisia. He started his musical training at the age of eight, with clarinet and saxophone lessons, after stealing his sister’s recorder and discovering his own innate musical talent. “It was this small moment of spontaneity that sparked a surge of enthusiasm and love for music,” he has said.

“As every musician gravitates towards their own instrument that feels right and fits, my playing is earthed in the shape, feel and sound of the saxophone. It embodies the ultimate medium of expression and musical translation for me,” said Young.

His influence on the South African music scene has been impressive. Young played with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra for six years and has also put his classical music training to good use with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as others.

He has performed at various music festivals in South Africa, including the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Jazzathon, JPL Jazz Festival in Durban and the Grahamstown National Arts Festival.

Sharing the stage with South African artists like Joseph Shabalala of Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Jonathan Butler, as well as international stars like Shakatak, Shirley Bassey, James Galway, Keith Washington, Dionne Warwick and Pop/Jazz/Funk luminaries like Matt Bianco and Precious Wilson Band, Young has captivated audiences with his melodic sounds.

In the early 90’s he formed a five piece Jazz/Funk/Fusion Band in South Africa called Let It Flow.

Young’s 1994 debut album Soul People topped the South African charts twice and was nominated five times for the South African Music Awards. He released six more, including A Christmas Album in 1999,  Live in Vienna in 2007 and his latest, In A Quiet Moment... in 2009.

The latter is a reflective mixture of Gospel and Smooth Jazz  and is a musical tribute to the memory of his late mother who passed away recently.

Young has strong Christian beliefs and his album One II One reached number 1 on the Gospel
Music Charts in South Africa in 2001.

His musical influences include the late Grover Washington JR; Earth, Wind And Fire; the Electric Light Orchestra; and Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street.

Sax, Blues & Rock ‘n Roll is one and a half hours long, including a 15 minute interval. Ticket categories are R100 and R120, with sales via Computicket, Going Places and Strictly Tickets. A box office will also be available for sales two and a half hours before each performance. Evening shows start at 7:30pm and there is a special matinee show on Easter Monday 25 April at 2:30pm.

Other South African dates for Andrew Young fans to look out for this year include Cape Town and Johannesburg.

The artist will also be back at SUNCOAST on 15 August to perform at the CANSA Night of 100 Stars charity gala show along with some of the country’s best loved stars of stage and screen.