The Lady Day Big Band

The Lady Day Big Band is a dynamic collective founded by well-known vocalist Lana Crowster, and acclaimed vocalist-pianist and arranger, Amanda Tifﬁn, in collaboration with highly respected trombonist and composer, Kelly Bell. The Lady Day Big Band is South Africa’s ﬁrst all-female big band, consisting entirely of professional woman musicians.

The 20-piece Lady Day Big Band features a powerful line up of Cape Town’s ﬁnest musicians. The band incorporates contemporary styles with traditional big band sounds, to give audiences an explosive experience of exciting big band music, and features the powerful vocal stylings of Lana Crowster.

“I have always dreamed of starting a big band that would provide a platform for professional women musicians to showcase their talents in a safe space” says Crowster. “This project is also about inspiring young girls who may have a passion for music. I want young girls to see us doing what we love, doing it well, and see what is possible for them.”

Amanda Tifﬁn takes up the baton as conductor and musical director for this project: “Watching these musicians come together…and really own the music and their space has been a truly powerful experience.”

The Lady Day Big Band gave their debut performance at the 2018 South African Jazz Educators’ Conference to a packed house and a thunderous standing ovation. Gwen Ansell commented in an article that “…Already, LDBB is a tight-knit outﬁt with impressive soloists.” Other notable performances include The Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2019, RMB Starlight Classics 2020, The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunste Fees 2019, The Imagine Awards ceremony 2019, The Cape Town Jazz Big Band Festival 2018, The Artscape Jazz Masters Series 2018 & the nationally syndicated Expresso Morning Show. The band has also been nominated for two Kanna Awards following their performance at the KKNK Festival in 2019.

The band features writing by several of its members, as well as some fresh arrangements from local composers and arrangers. Their repertoire includes an exciting mix of South African jazz, alongside popular standards and a few surprises.