Want to explore a new music genre? Here's how you can get into jazz easily

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Something about the joy of irritating my father, going back and forth about how I keep hijacking his jazz CD collection, is something I find beyond rewarding, God's virtue even. I got into jazz at the very grown-up age of six. What initially entered my life as elevator music soon turned into an obsession. Here's five ways you can get into jazz without feeling intimidated.

Let it play in the background

The more you casually live with jazz - playing it in the background while studying, cleaning, commuting ­­ - the less difficult it feels, and the more addictive it becomes. I started while studying with lo-fi beats on YouTube.

Try starting with fusion

Tamil Jazz Collective is a popular jazz band that performed at Bonobo recently. PIC/INSTAGRAM@tamiljazz collective

As someone who grew up listening to a lot of rock and metal, it was difficult for me to get acclimated to slower genres, but one thing that really got me engrossed was jazz fusion. One search is enough to show you genres of jazz rock, Japanese jazz rap, jazz techno, and more. Even artistes such as Laufey and Norah Jones, who have managed to go viral, fall under the ambit of jazz pop or modern traditional pop.

Don't be a spoilsport

PIC/PINTEREST@naomiibrown

Instead of simply giving up after the first 30 seconds, overcome those urges to switch to something more upbeat. Let your brain, for the first time in probably months, confront your thoughts as Chet Baker delivers one of his best works, that he probably performed live in prison for the first time before releasing to the public. For the uninitiated, Baker is a legendary jazz artiste who frequented jails a lot because of a bad heroin habit.

Do a background check

PIC/PINTEREST@4ngelvison

Jazz artistes have the most insane back stories, and that makes the genre even more intriguing. A lot of them were addicted to substances while producing what they loved most, music. This makes for compelling narratives and myth-making around their discography. Even when he was in jail, Baker kept playing for the inmates, because a world without music is like Picasso's canvas without paint.

Go for free gigs

Bluebop cafe holds Jazz Nights every Friday. PIC/SUHANA SAHA

If there's anything better than jazz, it's live jazz. Going for local gigs helps immensely when you've just started out with a new genre. Here, it's more than just jazz. It's the audience, the conversations, the musicians, all in one. There is absolutely nothing that can beat a chat with a stranger telling you what they love, and why they do. In the city, always be on the lookout for Bluebop café in Khar West, Bonobo in Bandra West, Milagro in Prabhadevi, as venues that host jazz gigs a lot. The Bombay Jazz Club, too, is a collective that performs all over the city.

My favourite reccos

>>  Take Five by The Dave Brubeck Quartet: What's unique about it are the quirky time signatures that don't follow the usual 4/4 beat, but instead do something completely different with its 5/4 rhythm.

>>  Solitude and Blue Moon by Billie Holiday: Perfect for hosting high-teas with the girls.

>>  Giant Steps by John Coltrane: A classic by one of the biggest jazz legends. The saxophone solo is to die for.

>>  Jazz Is for Ordinary People by berlioz: Perfect for those who love house music. Musician berlioz is a new-age electronic jazz producer who blends both genres perfectly.

>>  Stormy Weather by Etta James: Perfect for a breakup, and if you're brooding over someone. James weaves together blues, soul, and jazz to make this masterpiece.