Justin Holcroft

Yusuf Justin Holcroft has ranked as one of the top saxophonists in South Africa. After emigrating there in 2004, he worked with artists as diverse as Jonathan Roxmouth, Miriam Makeba, Freshlyground, Simphiwe Dana, TKZee, Gang of Instrumentals, the Bala Brothers, Richard Stirton and Chiano Sky, as well as international superstars Richard Shelton, Dave Stewart, and Phil Perry. Before leaving SA in 2021, he was a regular member of Soul’d Out (Deep House), En Fuego (Salsa) and Swing City, played lead tenor sax in the Johannesburg Big Band, and was prolifically involved in the corporate music scene as well as leading his own quintet. He was also jazz saxophone lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg) between 2012 and 2015. Since returning to the UK in late 2021, Justin has become involved in the local music scene, playing lead alto in the Neil Coley Big Band (Birmingham) and being a regular performer with many of the North West’s top-known function bands