Sax ace Tom returns home for gig

A musician from West Dorset who has been recording with Emilé Sandé as well as modelling for Ralph Lauren is returning home for a special gig.

Tom Waters, 22, attended Broadmayne and Puddletown schools while living in Owermoigne and in the holidays he toured with his parents Ben and Ruth and sister Molly alongside huge stars, including Charlie Watts, Jools Holland, Ronnie Wood and other well-known blues and jazz musicians. Ben and Ruth now travel from their home in Sherborne to see their son play as often as they can. Aged five, Tom travelled to Edinburgh to see his dad play with Rocket 88. Tom heard Willie Garnett and Don Weller play here for the first time. They were two of the UK’s finest sax players. This initial spark made Tom fall in love with the music, and shortly after, he got his first sax and started sitting in on his dad’s gigs. Charlie Watts was so impressed he used to let young Tom do a few tunes with the band despite his tender age. In 2013 Charlie invited Tom and his dad to Hyde Park to see the Rolling Stones. Secretly he had organised Tom a saxophone lesson with Bobby Keys and Tim Ries. Right at the end of the lesson, they presented Tom with a brand new sax to help him on his way to being a professional musician. This incredibly kind act spurred Tom onto another level.

Tom left school aged 13 to go on tour with his father, being taught by his mum while doing 900 shows worldwide over three years.

During these three years, Tom also got to play with second-line bands from New Orleans (Southern Komfort Brass Band), Chart Topping Pop Bands from Canada (Broken Social Scene) and the great Keito Saito in

Japan. At 16, Tom was offered a place at the prestigious Purcell School for Young Musicians in London.

It was here he would meet his good friend Jack Thomas who now plays the drums in the Electric People. Over their sixyear friendship, they have played in many different bands together. They found they loved the same style of music and played for hundreds of hours together. This shows in the rock-steady performances and their almost telepathic thought processes, leading to some inspirational improvisation. Later they would go to The Royal Academy of Music Together and develop their music further. This special bond comes across in the music. Living in London during uni Tom played nearly every night, a regular at Ronnie Scott’s, The 606 and countless other clubs. Ben said: “Being on tour regularly from a young age led him to meet all sorts of musicians around the country, including the prestigious Marcus Praestgard-Stevens at Coolham, a modern wonder of the world. “How can any 18-yearold play the guitar that well? He is a virtuoso, and Tom is delighted to have him in the band. “It also led to him meeting the last piece of the Jigsaw, the great Artie Zeitz, Playing the Hammond like he has six hands. He plays righthand solos and left-hand pads and then plays the bass (remember, there is no bass player in this band) with his feet. This is almost a lost art, and when Artie has two Leslie speakers on the stage and a Hammond organ, it is one of the biggest sounds around.” n Tom Waters Electric People will play at Dorchester Corn Exchange on Friday, April 28 at 8pm. To book tickets (£22) go to tomwaters.co.uk