Sonic Curiosity

Music is an artform that almost demands an open-mindedness to trying something new. Curiosity builds creativity, and this level of play and experimentation is at the heart of the craft of local musician Joel Shotwell.

Not one to limit his instrument selection, the performer that’s perhaps best known locally for jazz saxophone, among many other instruments, isn’t shy about sharing his love of new and next.

“I recently got a new percussion instrument I’ve been playing at gigs called a ‘cuíca,’ which is a Brazilian instrument that resembles a talking drum that—actually, let me just show you really quick!”

This unrelenting interest in instrumental music and drive to share that interest with others is part of what makes Shotwell such a lifelong collaborative artist.

“I think ever since I was a kid, I mean, the first time I played guitar was at a friend’s house. And I thought to myself, ‘People actually play these things? Like, it’s not just for rock stars?’ So anytime I see a new instrument I kind of have to get my hands all over it and annoy everyone around me by trying to learn it.”

Getting his start like many as a piano student from a young age, Shotwell credits his parents with kicking off his music journey.

“I think my parents were the first generation in my family that had the means to give their kids a little bit more,” he said, “so they wanted to put us in piano lessons. Right away, from the get-go, it became my thing.”

Saxophone lessons soon followed, and suddenly collecting instruments became something worth sweat labor to garner.

“In fifth grade, I started to mow my dad’s lawn at his work and saved up that money every summer,” Shotwell said. “The first thing I bought was a bass and then a guitar. It was kind of like a folk upbringing, as I never took lessons on those. I just kind of learned them from friends and from listening to records. It was kind of a blessing—I later realized I could relate that to the saxophone and learn it the same way.”

Throughout his middle and high school experience in Sioux Falls, the instrumentalist encountered mentors that cultivated his interests, such as band teacher Darrell Omanson and saxophone instructor Patsy Holzwarth.

“I had really great teachers who fed my curiosity,” he said. “Sometimes a teacher might not really see it, so it’s nice that I was lucky to have people like that.”

The outlet served Shotwell throughout his teen years, when music was a great place for him to cope with challenges.

“My parents split up when I was 14 or 15, and I used music as a way to deal with it,” he said. “You get out the frustration and move on—without music, I wouldn’t have been able to. Frustrations in life and beauty in life—I can release it through music and move on. Music is a really important part of that for me—maybe that’s why I’m compelled to make it.”

And make it he has—since leaving his teaching position of seven years and pursuing music full-time, Shotwell has participated in the Jazz Diversity Project and the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society Jazz Camp, as well as performed regularly with the Hegg Brothers and JAS Quintet, in addition to teaching around 10 students through his studio.

“My wife doesn’t demand a giant house—we live very comfortably, but I can make a living doing what I’m doing, because I don’t have the pressures of some people in our society that maybe feel like they have to have all this stuff,” he said. “I have friends with two jobs because of the pressure. It makes me feel really lucky that I’m able to do it. If things make you happy in life that don’t cost a lot of money, then you don’t have to make a lot of money. I like that I don’t want a speedboat.”

This balance has yielded some of Shotwell’s biggest creative wins of late, including JAS Quintet’s recent album release Bird Ritual Interrupted. “It was a nice culmination of playing together for a long time. We learned together. We’ve done two albums in-studio, and each one has kind of shown how we’ve grown together as a group. That one was really a dream come true—it was a really great true picture of where we were at that time.”

Through the education side of his practice, the musician hopes to facilitate that same feeling amongst the students he teaches and, in turn, the people in his family.

“My biggest fear as a father is ruining music for my daughter,” he said. “It’s my life, and I take it so seriously. I’d never want to have a negative connotation. That’s something I try to do with students, too—to make sure that no matter what, they come out with positivity and music in alignment.”

Chalking up a proficiency in piano, saxophone, guitar, bass, flute, clarinet and, of late, cuica, what’s next for an artist with too much curiosity to hold in?

“I have this real fascination with learning to paint. Music will be a part of it, but that’s something that’s kind of been in my head for the last few years. I have distant relatives that I’ve learned about and have some of their artwork—I had a great uncle who taught at Berkeley and was the head of the art department there, so it’s there! Somewhere in here!”