About Sean

Bassist (Electric/Double)

Sean Sanby has been performing on the Cape Town jazz scene for a number of years. His passion for music started while still at school where he played in every band that he could, across every genre. He has completed a degree in Jazz Performance at SACM (UCT) studying under Hein Van de Geyn (NL) and Shaun Johannes (SA). Sean has just finished an 18-month tour with the International Tour of Matilda the Musical where he has been playing bass and continuing to develop his sound composing and producing music. Sean returns to Cape Town in 2020 to release his debut album “Out of the Candlelight”.

Sanby has played all over South Africa as a side man, performing at various festivals such as Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Joy of Jazz, Zakifo Festival and Bushfire Festival. Some achievements include being chosen for the Artscape Youth Jazz Festival (2015/2016) featuring his own compositions. In 2013 & 2014 he was selected for the Standard Bank Schools Big Band directed by Ian Darrington (UK) & Mike Campbell (SA) as part of the Grahamstown Jazz Festival. In 2017 he was chosen to attend the Arcevia Jazz Festival as part of an Italian student exchange programme. In 2018 Sean won the FMR Music Bursary Competition and was selected for the Standard Bank National Youth Band directed by Amanda Tiffin (SA).

Sean has toured and performed with local and international artists such as: Mandisi Dyantyis, Nomfundo Xavula, Zoe Modiga, Nicky Schrire, Tuur Florizoone(BE), Frank Paco (Moz), Steve Newman, Lucas Senyatso, Mandla Mlangeni, Ian Smith, Adelia Douw, The UCT Big Band, the Sekunjalo Edujazz Big Band, The Delft Big Band, CPYO, CPO and many more.

Sean’s music reflects his varied influences and interests with a strong jazz influence but including African music, R&B, soul, folk and Cape jazz.