TEENAGE saxophone player Tom Allonby has got his musical career off to a jazzy start.
The 15-year-old schoolboy, of St David’s Wood, Acrrington, is about to release his debut album of 1940s jazz hits.
Just For Fun, which is out next Friday, in aid of Cancer Research UK, contains four tracks; Cotton Trail, Easy Living, Autumn Leaves, and Billie’s Bounce.
The album, recorded at Nelson’s Ace Centre, features Tom — who has played the alto sax since he was 10 — performing on his Japanese hand-made Yanagasava saxophone to backing tracks.
Tom, who appeared at the Ribble Valley Jazz Festival, was asked to do the album after playing at a function for Ribble Valley White Rose Ladies, who raise funds for children’s cancer charities.
The pupil at Ribblesdale Technology College, Clitheroe, said: ”I love jazz. It’s all my iPod has on it.
"I really want to be a musician, and if I can help children’s charities too that would be amazing.
"I can’t imagine what it would be like to be so poorly.
“I think it shows on the album, by how I play, just how much fun I had. I hope people enjoy it as much as I have.”
The album is dedicated to Tom’s saxophone teacher Brian Taylor, of Clitheroe, who he names as his musical idol and features a photograph of Tom’s younger sister Ruby on the sleeve.
Just For Fun will be available from Friday, September 24 at The Grand, Clitheroe, for £5, all proceeds go to Cancer Research UK.
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