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Busking jazz prodigy's cash bid

Aug 16 2009 by Paul Loraine, Sunday Sun

Steve, 44, and his wife Fiona, 41, play in a band called “Jump The Q” and, having grown up listening to his parents rehearsing, Alexander became interested in music from a very early age.

Steve said: “He was playing piano when he was two. Then he got a soprano sax, when he was six and within two months he had passed his grade one exam. He’s now keen on playing the flute.”

Alexander said he had picked up his love of jazz from his parents.

“My mum and dad play jazz in their band and I always liked the style of it,” he said.

“I also play jazz piano, clarinet and drums but the sax will always be my first instrument. It’s given me more confidence, passing the diploma.”

Originally from Newcastle, the family now live in Richmond, North Yorkshire, and the father and son duo are busking as much as possible to give Alexander experience of playing in front of an audience.

“Because of his age there’s a limit on where Alexander can play so busking is a great way of playing for a lot of people,” said Steve.

The family are soon to pay a visit to Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester - a specialist school for talented young musicians.

“We’re going to have a look and see if he likes it and if he might be someone they would take on,” he said.

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