John Edwards is a jazz pianist, composer and educator. Originally from Durban, he graduated from the University of KwaZulu-Natal with a Masters in Jazz and lectured at this institution from 2004 while pursuing his career as a professional jazz musician.
John Edwards is a jazz pianist, composer and educator. Originally from Durban, he graduated from the University of KwaZulu-Natal with a Masters in Jazz and lectured at this institution from 2004 while pursuing his career as a professional jazz musician.
Although his preferred medium is acoustic jazz, his musical versatility has enabled him to perform, compose and record in several musical contexts including rock bands, jazz/classical fusions, dance productions, cabaret and cruise ship engagements. After a four year spell at Rhodes and in Grahamstown, John moved to Port Elizabeth in 2010. In addition to teaching at NMMU, he is increasingly visible as a jazz performer in and around the Eastern Cape region.
What's your greatest ambition in life?
I’ll answer this with my favourite quote: "To be nobody but yourself, in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else, means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting." – ee cummings
Tell us something about you that nobody else knows.
I’m certainly not going to divulge my deeper and darker secrets, but here’s some lesser known and innocuous information: it was at the advanced age of 30 that I began formal music studies at university (although I did have the advantage of private piano tuition as a youth). When I first attended university at 18, I intended majoring in English and History and I was looking towards a career in journalism or advertising.
What's your most embarrassing moment?
Some years ago I decided to learn tai chi. As the months went by, I realised that the instructor of my group expected a level of commitment which I didn’t feel I could offer so I fabricated a tale involving serious physical injury to extricate myself from the classes. I was living in a big city at the time and didn’t think I would encounter anyone from the class, let alone the instructor. He arrived unannounced at my home with the intention of aiding me in my plight. Clearly in the best of health, and wearing beach apparel, I opened my front door to find him standing there. I remember in that embarrassing moment a variety of wild options flashed through my head – deny everything, slam the door and lock it, kill the instructor and emigrate, pretend to be my long lost twin… As it was, I blushed and mumbled incoherently, hopelessly caught out in my lie. The instructor didn’t speak but the unwavering intensity of his stare and the contemptuous turn of his heel kind of said it all.
How does Grahamstown rock for you?
There is a high concentration – disproportionate to a small town – of diverse, talented and eccentric people who live here. This makes Grahamstown – for the most part – a dynamic and interesting place.
If there was one thing that you could change about Grahamstown, what would it be?
Perhaps it’s in my head and it contradicts my previous response but it seems that torpor can descend upon Grahamstown without warning – if only there was something that could be activated to keep Grahamstown consistently inspiring….
If you could be mayor for a day what would you do?
Oh, all the usual: eradicate poverty, create empowering and sustainable opportunities for the street children and build bridges between the economically polarised communities in the town. Realistically though, if it’s only for one day, I’d probably revel in my status, dress up in my mayoral robes and chains and go out for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Who are your top three dinner guests?
I know I’m supposed to probably come up with high profile figures for this question. But, in all honesty, my top three dinner guests would be close friends who love and accept me unconditionally.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you take with you?
A luxury resort, my own chalet and a contract for a well paid gig.
What word best describes you?
Stubborn. And on that note, I’d like two words. I’m also generous.
What is your favorite recipe?
My own take on prawn curry.
What do you do in your spare time?
I vacillate between healthy and unhealthy lifestyle choices and activities.
What are you reading at the moment?
I usually have two books on the go. At the moment it’s The Pregnant Widow by Martin Amis and Solar by Ian McEwan. Solar is winning by a wide margin. I’m also looking forward to the new book by Jonathan Franzen.
What's your favorite CD?
There are several. A perennial favourite is A Kind of Blue by Miles Davis.
