Saxophonist

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: I will dive right into your track, and give it all the love, because I LOVE doing this - contributing to other people's music from my own little studio, with no distractions, taking as long as I need to to get the right take. This is why I don't specify maximum numbers of revisions etc. I take real job satisfaction in getting it right!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I get a real kick out of the variety and unpredictability of the musical demands/situations you find yourself immersed in. That and perhaps even more the profound pleasure of creating a sound that wasn't there until you came along and added it to the track.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I've spent twenty years on the road and loved (almost!) every minute of it. Having kids though has changed everything - it does that? Who would have thought! I still adore touring BUT I can't be disappearing from home for weeks on end while my kids are young. So I finally took the time to build a home studio - and get to know Logic a little better! It is hugely satisfying to be able to drop my kids at school, come home, neck an espresso (home-roasted beans, if you please), head out to my 'bunker' (as my better half class it), and make music.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Like pretty much every saxophonist out there, I am a jazz musician at heart. BUT I had an epiphany, thank the lord, as I quit my teenager years, and suddenly understood that, in the words of Duke Ellington, "There's only two kinds of music - good music and bad music." I take pleasure in so much music! Specifically as a saxophone player, I hope to be a synthesis of the history of the instrument - yes, jazz is at the base, but it's overlaid with rhythm n' blues, soul, pop, all kinds of dance music. Michael Brecker was the great modern master of this; I don't set out to sound like him at all costs, but in a commercial context his sensibility is a big influence.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: Ooh, this is a hard one. Stevie is still going, and that would be a pretty joyous experience! Sting would also be awesome. I'll await the call! (I do also like to work with artists whose names don't begin with 'St'!)

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I would say that I play saxophone in a commercial idiom WITHOUT sounding cheesy, if that makes sense?! If you want Kenny G, or a real 'smooth jazz' sound, I'm not your man! I really enjoy making almost all kinds of music - highly commercial, unpretentious music, as much as more niche stuff - BUT crucially I hope to bring musical integrity to any situation.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I keep it pretty simple. My studio is purpose built in my back garden, so I have the luxury of a space that doesn't need to serve any other purpose. It's a great-sounding room, carpet, acoustic panels, really nice and dry. I use a Sontronix cardioid condenser mic (nothing fancy or vintage, but it really sounds great for saxophone), a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface, and Logic on my Mac.