I have always considered myself primarily music performer rather than a composer. However, as the years progress and I continue to write new works I am forced to admit that I might be part of this peculiar group of musicians.

I usually compose at an instrument and this goes along way to explaining why I have written predominantly for saxophone. I take my inspiration primarily from real life events often which have been humorous. As my Australian saxophone teacher Peter Clinch once told me, ‘if you can’t play fast – play funny!’ My composition tends to be influenced by the music that I am playing at the time and often I will include musical elements from these pieces.

Unlike my many composer friends, I am not a composer who works with dedication day after day slowly crafting my music into fine works of musical expression. I would prefer to improvise a new piece than to sit down and write one. Often my compositions are based on improvisations that I have continued to play and once they stop changing, the piece is complete.

I love new ideas. I like extending instruments to explore their idiomatic qualities. Everything must have a context, a purpose and a musical function. I will never use an effect for the effects sake. The audience comes first in my motivation and they must leave a performance of my music fulfilled after hearing something new within the context of something they already know. I like taking an audience from the known to the unknown, without them realising they are on a journey of discovery.