MELODY MAKER - UK - October 29, 1966

How Some Of Today's Top Men Started

..... GRAHAM BOND: At the age of five I told my parents I wanted to play organ and they were all going to come up to the Albert Hall to watch me play. So they got me a piano and I studied from the age of seven until I was 14.

When I was 15 I decided to form a jazz band and because I had chronic asthma I took up alto sax to help strenghten my lungs and breathing. Now I've got very strong lungs. My father bought me an alto, and for weeks before that I practiced fingering with a stick with the notes cut in. I've got an unconventional approach to saxophone. I never bothered with chords - I just believe in blowing!

For beginners get a good sax exercise, and build up the basics and at the same time listen to everything and be influenced by everything, good or bad, because you can then draw from so many things and you won't get stuck to any style. Also stay as healthy as you can, because it's a very hard business .....

Maureen Hart