Steve Hart – the host of Just Jazz
Steve Hart edits the Just Jazz site and is the host of the Just Jazz radio show that’s broadcast worldwide every week via Sunbury Radio 99.3FM, Melbourne. The show is also available as a podcast, and Steve hosts The Channel on YouTube.
Steve’s career in the entertainment industry started as a club DJ in 1980. However, by the end of the decade he had developed a passion for writing and began contributing music reviews to his local newspaper. He was eventually taken on as a journalist, and for a while he was a mild-mannered reporter during the day, and beat mixing club DJ by night.
“It was a surreal existence,” says Steve. “I was reporting on local politics, crime, courts, and inquests during the day, and then working three or four nights a week as a fun-loving club DJ winding up the dance floors at top UK venues across Essex, Kent, and London.
“I loved the music, and I loved my job reporting the news. But something had to give, and so by the time the 90s came along I had reduced my DJ commitments, and concentrated on climbing the newsroom ladder to become an editor.”
I have always enjoyed listening to jazz, even when I was into house and garage…
In the background was 10 years as a volunteer at his local hospital radio station (1978-1988), reading news for the blind – on cassette tapes back then – and there were stints in local radio. First as a tech op for a late-night phone-in show, and then as a news reporter working for both BBC Essex and commercial station Essex Radio.
In addition he hosted breakfast at Basildon Radio “getting up at 6am was no fun”, he was a popular Radio Top Shop announcer for five years, and was heard on some London pirate stations too.
Underneath it all though, was a love of jazz.
“I have always enjoyed listening to jazz, even when I was into house and garage music,” says Steve. “I’d buy random jazz records and CDs at HMV – because I didn’t know exactly what to buy – and slowly built up a wide collection.
“I read books on the history of jazz, and when podcasting and internet radio came along I saw my opportunity…I returned to my roots of playing music, I started a pre-recorded radio show and offered it to broadcasters.
“I like jazz because for the main part it is unpredictable, real instruments played by real musicians. I particularly enjoy listening to the piano and sax, and my interest ranges from old school boogie-woogie to smooth jazz. I still love club music too.
“Right now I am in a sweet spot where my weekly show is heard on almost 100 stations, I get to hear great music from established and emerging artists, and I enjoy sharing their work both on air and on the Just Jazz site.”
This website and the Just Jazz show are run by Steve as a hobby, but if you enjoy this site and the show then please consider topping up his caffeine levels at ‘Buy Me a Coffee‘ – Cheers! (please also support the artists directly by buying their music. Streaming music services are not doing enough to support the artists).
