Mark Ramsden's Extraordinary Renditions

I once played to thirtythousand people in Italy, the crowd went wild and back stage when I stumbled into Paul Simon he turned around and apologised to me. Such good manners are part of the reason why he is justly famous (in addition to great songs etc.). The Days of Wine and Roses for me have indeed, as promised, slipped away and I'm generally performing to about twentynine thousand nine hundred and fifty people less than at the San Remo song festival. But it's worth it not be deafened by pop stars or to have to mime to your own playing while fighting off various travel bugs or enduring malodorous buffoons such as roadies or being robbed blind by managers.

Why do Jazz Musicians persist when the financial rewards are so slim? Are we insane? Well, I actually am mad, technically, diagnised as a bipolar drink and drug addict, (the full Kerry Katona). But that's no hindrance to being a Jazz musician. Bit late to publicise my latest gigs but I'm at the National Theatre 1.45 April 11th with the Goddess of grand piano and vocals Hilary Cameron and Dr Richard Niles guesting. ("The missing link between Jim Hall and Frank Zappa") As for me, I try to play melodic soulful saxophone. Please come to Bar Blue Hastings, with guitarist Nigel Price April 25th 3 - 5 pm. My children need to eat. "You sound good" Michael Brecker. "Ramsden is a consummate saxophonist and a talented composer." Ian Carr Rough Guide to Jazz. "Ramsden is a prodigiously gifted saxophonist, good chops, beautiful sound, plenty of power, and even more imagination." Richard Palmer, Jazz Journal