SANDY Smith

I was first exposed to and love jazz because i was introduced to it in my teens in the 70s watching a very young Josh Sklair (son of Sam Sklair and brother Pete who I later on worked with) and Johnny Fourie at the Branch office in downtown Johannesburg, South Africa . I was international manager for Miriam Makeba, the manager of, the publicity, media, promo and visits of artist on record labels such as ECM, Concorde, Blue Note, Dave Grusin's GRP label etc and worked with so many like South African Jonathan Butler, Barney Rachabane, Abdullah Ibrahim, Ray Phiri, Hotep Galeta, Jonas Gwangwa, Sipho Gumede & Khaya Mahlangu, and international artist such as Ramsey Lewis,and Letta Mbulu & Caiphus Semenya. I worked for a few years at the Montreux Jazz festival under the auspices of Claude Nobbs and i was invited by host Quincy Jones to be a tour guide to many artists Ramsey Lewis, Etta James & Josh Sklair, BB King, Queen, Elton John, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Quincy Jones, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nina Simone, Simply Red, Jonathan Butler, Randy Crawford, Ramsey Lewis, Etta James, Village People, Julio Iglesias, Bonnie Tyler, Seal, Bonny Raitt, model Iman & her late husband David Bowie, and many more artists.The best show I ever attended was Tutu Puoane in 2024 was so incredible her vocals were like poetry in motion to her musicianship along with her band was a wow and saw Cuban legend Chuchoa Valdez and his musicians I could have watched then for days on end. The first jazz record I bought was GLOW Al Jarreau and Nina Simone Forbiddden Fruit. My advice to new listeners especially jazz, rest back, listen whilst working around the house or working on your computer, be patient jazz is like taking the time cooking your favourite meal then siting down eating and drinking your finest wine especially but not necessarily if you are alone.