The making of Swingle Bells: Jonathan Roxmouth with The Johannesburg Big Band

14 Dec 2023

The Johannesburg Big Band's five trumpeteers. Photo: Johnny De Gouveia.

The rhythm section of The Johannesburg Big Band. Photo: Johnny De Gouveia.

Sax players for The Johannesburg Big Band. Photo: Johnny De Gouveia.

With a penchant for Swing music (he calls it his "guilty pleasure") renowned musical theatre performer Jonathan Roxmouth has always toyed with the idea of a Christmas album – but not just any Christmas album. And this month, from Dec 15 – 24, he takes to the Montecasino stage for Swingle Bells, accompanied by the Johannesburg Big Band, with appearances by Timothy Moloi and Monique Steyn. Book your tickets here.

"Swingle Bells is a throwback to the golden age of Christmas Swing music when Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Bobby Darin were the custodians of 'yule cool'.”

One of South Africa's leading media composers, Adam Howard, encouraged Roxmouth by saying, "Christmas music is timeless and always listenable." Still, Roxmouth thought little more of the idea beyond it being a nice dream for some time down the road. That was until the Covid-19 pandemic hit and he found himself with plenty of free time in quarantine. He began writing and arranging and before he knew it, he was back in Joburg and ready to start recording.

Jonathan Roxmouth ushers in the holiday spirit at Montecasino's Teatro. Photo: The CoLab Network.

In 2021 Roxmouth and the highly acclaimed 19-piece Johannesburg Big Band headed into Howard Audio studios to record the Swingle Bells Christmas album. "It's a throwback to the golden age of Christmas Swing music when Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Bobby Darin were the custodians of 'yule cool'. The concept is straightforward: to have the most joy and fun with the music of everyone’s childhood,” Roxmouth explains.

The recorded album features special guest artists Timothy Moloi and Monique Steyn and a children’s vocal ensemble from Stageworx School Of Performing Arts, and is available on all streaming platforms.

"I'm a little bit biased," says conductor Adam Howard, "But I don't think you can beat a Christmas album with a full 19-piece big band." Five trumpets, four trombones, five saxophones, piano, bass, drums, and guitar join together in this symphony. "To have the musicians playing all together in one space really sparked a creativity that you can't match when you're recording separately," Howard says.

Adam Howard conducts The Johannesburg Big Band for the Swingle Bells live performance. Photo: Johnny De Gouveia. — Adam Howard conducts The Johannesburg Big Band for the *Swingle Bells* live performance. Photo: Johnny De Gouveia.

Audiences get to enjoy this spirit of collaboration first-hand over the holidays as Roxmouth is joined once again by The Johannesburg Big Band, conducted by Howard, on stage at the Montecasino's Teatro for a live performance of the recorded songs. For your fill of swinging Christmas hits, look no further than Swingle Bells – A Christmas Concert Spectacular. A blast for kids and adults alike.

Of course classics like Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song and Frank Sinatra's Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas form part of the line-up, along with playful takes on Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty The Snowman. "Swingle Bells has turned out to be pretty much the most fun that is still legal in South Africa, quite frankly," Roxmouth says. If that's not enough to entice you, we rest our case. Head to the Teatro at Montecasino this festive season for a jolly good time.

Don't miss Swingle Bells – A Christmas Concert Spectacular at the Teatro at Montecasino until Dec 24. For groups of 10 or more, senior citizens, scholars and students, take advantage of discounted tickets. Find the showtimes here.