It's reassuring to know that, despite our economic and political woes, we still have some strengths. Our ability to show appreciation for good music is one of them; something that 2014 Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year Kyle Shepherd, 28, really enjoys when playing in South Africa."I've played around the world, from Tokyo to Paris, from New York to Amsterdam. What South Africa lacks in infrastructure when it comes to the concert scene is made up for in audience enthusiasm, and that I really love. I love South African audiences," says the Cape Town-born and based artist.His jazz trio, which has just embarked on a tour of South Africa, consists of Shane Cooper on double bass, Jonno Sweetman on drums and Shepherd on piano. They have a special chemistry, having been together for seven years. This is roughly six years too long by jazz standards, but what Shepherd particularly enjoys about his fellow musicians is that their musical upbringing and influences are completely different from his."They come from a more rock music and electronic music background. I grew up playing classical music on the violin and I started playing jazz at a very young age."One thing that seems to prickle the man is the label "jazz". While for some it's an honour to be called a jazz musician, for Shepherd it's a box he is keen to avoid, partly because he feels there is such a range of different music to explore."I suppose I'm considered a jazz musician, but I like to be more open than that. I hope to make lots of different kinds of music for the rest of my life. I want to make electronic music and I really enjoy composing classical music," he says.Fair enough, but his brand of jazz - or whatever you want to call it - has been particularly successful overseas. For example, how many other young South Africans have recorded an album in Japan?Was recording in the land of the rising sun accompanied by sushi and meditation?He laughs. "There was some of that. The album in Japan was commissioned by somebody who had heard all my solo concerts there - more than 20 - so it was produced by somebody who loves the music, and it felt special in that way."The young pianist who doesn't want to be put into a box will be at large in South Africa with his trio, playing material from Dreamstates, their Sama-nominated double album.Today, 8pm: Wits Great Hall, Johannesburg; Sunday, September 6: Gaborone International Music and Culture Week, Botswana; Thursday, September 10: Centro Cultural Franco-Moçambicano Auditorium, Maputo, Mozambique; Saturday September 19: Stirling High School Auditorium, East London; and Thursday and Friday October 8 and 9: Straight No Chaser Club, Cape Town..