Karen Devroop

Bio

Karén Devroop is South Africa’s leading saxophonist who has performed with most of South Africa’s leading jazz artists.

He has collaborated with an impressive list of artists from the US, Netherlands, Germany, Venezuela, Canada, Italy, Thailand, Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, Mauritius and the Seychelles. Devroop has several live and studio recordings to his credit. As a soloist, he has performed with his jazz quartet in the US, Europe, Asia and South Africa. His most recent performances include the Kreol Festival (Seychelles), Virginia Arts Festival (USA), North Texas Jazz Festival (USA), Gretna Music Fest (USA), Amersfoort Jazz Festival (Netherlands), Taipei International Music Expo (Taiwan), Samui Latin and Jazz Festival (Thailand) and Unisa Jazz Festival (SA).

As a lead alto saxophonist, Devroop has performed/recorded with the Dallas Jazz Orchestra, Carroll Bailey Big Band, Marcus Wolfe Big Band and Unisa Big Band. He has appeared as a side stage act for Cedar Walton, Earth Wind and Fire, Jill Scott, Chicago and Queen Latifah. He recently completed the Battle of the Saxes tour, which included jazz saxophone, classical saxophone, jazz rhythm section and string quartet and the New York Round Midnight (SA) tour, which is a jazz theatre production for nine piece jazz ensemble, video, narration and set.

In 2020, he undertook the Sophiatown Jive tour which includes five saxes, rhythm section, narration, set and video. He is the founder and current director of the Unisa Big Band and Artistic Director of the Unisa Jazz Festival. The Unisa Big Band is the leading big band in South Africa comprised of South Africa’s leading jazz artists.

In addition to his small ensemble and big band work, he has recently performed as soloist with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, Sanremo Symphony Orchestra (Italy), Johannesburg Festival Orchestra, (South Africa), Orchestra del Teatro Traetta (Italy), Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and Unisa Symphony Orchestra performing jazz and classical works ranging from Astor Piazzolla and Pasquale la Rotella to South African jazz composers such as Abdullah Ibrahim and Miriam Makeba. Devroop’s most recent CD recording “The South African Jazz Songbook (2018)” features him with full orchestra and jazz rhythm section performing iconic South African jazz standards arranged for saxophone, full orchestra and jazz rhythm section. Devroop recently performed at the 2019 Starlight Classics concert alongside artists such as MICASA (South Africa’s leading house band) and RnB sensation Zoe Modiga while accompanied by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra.

In March 2020, Devroop released his new album “Ancestral Home” (DMP Label) and embark on a tour of the USA, Thailand, Japan and Spain towards the end of the year. The tour will promote the works off the new album and he will also appear as jazz soloist with the Denver Symphony Orchestra (USA), Kazak National Symphony Orchestra (Kazakstan) and the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra (South Africa). He is one of the headline jazz artists for the KotorArt Festival in Montenegro.

In addition to concerts with orchestras, big bands and jazz ensembles, Devroop has also performed as woodwind specialist on...

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Karen Devroop added a new video

She Changed Her Mind
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Karen Devroop added a new video

Selfless by Karen Devroop
Karen Devroop's picture

Karen Devroop added 2 new videos

Relentless
She loves to dance
Karen Devroop's picture

Karen Devroop added a new video

Relentless Promo

Videos

She Changed Her Mind
Selfless by Karen Devroop
She loves to dance
Relentless
Relentless Promo
Zwelibanzi by Karen Devroop
Pentrich by Karen Devroop
Lockdown Lockup by Karen Devroop
Durbs Bunny by Karen Devroop
Dance of the Indentured Promo
Ancestral home orchestral version
Hold my hand
Rita's heart
2021 Unisa Virtual Jazz Festival
Her mother's smile
Unisa POPS Concert 2021
Make You Feel My Love
Karen Devroop performs Adios Nonino with the Lamont Symphony
Karen Devroop performs Libertango with the Lamont Symphony
Karen Devroop and Fabrizio Savino 2019 Jazz Fest
Rita's Heart by Karen Devroop
Ancestral Home by Karen Devroop
Sunset in Koh Samui by Karen Devroop
Venezia by Karen Devroop
Karen Devroop performs Oblivion
Ancestral Home Live Concert FINAL
Ancestral Home Live Concert Promo 1
Ancestral Home Promo FINAL
Yakhal Inkomo
The Wedding
Pata Pata
Monwabisi
Mannenberg
Inner Peace
Koukouwa
Resurrection de Angel Karen Devroop with Sanremo Symphony
Oblivion Karen Devroop with Sanremo Symphony
Milongo de Angel Karen Devroop with Sanremo Symphony
Libertango Karen Devroop and Sanremo Symphony
Blues for a Hip King performed by the Unisa Big Band.
A Foggy Day performed by the Unisa Big Band featuring Daniella Hart.
Love for sale
The wedding performed by Karen Devroop with the Unisa Big Band.
Adios Noninos performed by Karen Devroop
Libertango performed by Karen Devroop
Cape Samba
Inner Peace
Khawuleza
Ntjilo Ntjilo
Embraceable You
Koukouwa
On Green Dolphin Street
Misty
Unisa Music Foundation Community Engagement 2020
Unisa International Piano Competition 2020
2019 Unisa Jazz Festival
Gone Too Soon
Unisa National Piano Competition 2019
Cape Town
Koukouwa
The Wedding - SA Jazz Songbook
Angola
Medley SA Jazz Songbook
Mertons Place
South African Jazz Songbook
The Wedding
Oblivion
Days of Wine and Roses
Blue Bossa
NtyiloNtyilo YouTube 1080p
MertonsPlace YouTube 1080p
Friends of Hospice Annual Jazz Dinner
ZAPretoria, South Africa
In operation since: 
2009

Contact

012-4293344
Karendra Devroop

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