The Phax Trio

The Phax Trio is powerful wind triumvirate “Eu(PH)onium, S(AX)ophone and Tuba”, formed by the alumni principal players of the South African National Youth Orchestra: Shaun Acker, Andrea Fisher­Jeffes and Zhaun Gorridon. The trio has dedicated themselves to composing and performing their own high proficiency contemporary classical music on instruments that are often boxed in by musical stereotype. Both Acker and Fisher-Jeffes’ compositions have been premiered locally and internationally. They are innovative and eclectic and completely new to South Africa. The combination of Alto Saxophone, Euphonium and Tuba blends itself to create a particular sound that is both aurally interesting and visually mesmerising.

They have performed at exciting music venues in Cape Town and Johannesburg including The Blah Blah Bar, Alexander Bar Café, The Mahogany Room / Straight No Chaser, The Crypt and St Georges Cathedral. They have recently returned from Johannesburg’s Nirox Classics Now program performing alongside The Soweto String Quartet premiering arrangements and composition that include a fusion of local and international flavours.  The Phax Trio have attended the National Arts Festival and the Fringe Festival in Cape Town and received rave reviews boasting “What a joy to listen to musicians who are simply being themselves, having fun, with no pretensions or attempts to appeal to some sub-culture, just playing music they enjoy to the best of their quite substantial abilities” – Steve Kretzmann, CT Fringe.

With a wide range of music making skills, the trio are able to accommodate almost any musical request. Have a set list of favourite songs? Let them know, and they’ll arrange it. This allows clients to custom fit their musical set list specifically to their event. Alternatively, you can order The Phax Trio to play their existing programs: Gypsy, Folk, Classical, Jazz, Pop, Avant Garde or Original (a favourite).

 “This unusual and rather odd combination of different instruments shows impressive technical skills and great musicality. In a very friendly atmosphere, the trio is taking the audience through Klezmer and Balkan music, amongst other styles” – PR, NAF.