Etienne Shardlow

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because I find it to be a form of music that is exciting and real, mostly created for the love of music and often avoids the trappings of commercialisation. I was first exposed to jazz by my father, although he spent more time listening to "classical" music. I meet jazz musicians regularly through my work in jazz radio. The best show I ever attended was a Zim Ngqawana concert at Carnival City. The first jazz record I owned was a Sonny Rollins double CD compilation, a gift from my father. My advice to new listeners: Find jazz that moves you, follow the individuals in the band to their solo albums or other groups they've worked with, you'll find similarities but also discover new paths.