A few words from Trace...........

So Trace, the saxophone - who inspires you, who do you listen to?..........

.....Mmmm....I listen to loads - my favourites are Phil Woods, he did the solo on Billy Joels' 'Just The Way You Are', David Sanborn, Lou Marini (from the Blues Brothers), Mark Rivera (Billys' current sax player), Maceo Parker (James Brown fame), Lenny Pickett & Snake Davis (M People etc.....). You can't beat the funk of Tower of Power - the horn arrangements for TOP are so complex but totally amazing, Emilio Castillo & Steve 'Doc' Kupka are responsible for them..................... Candy Dulfer is pretty cool too.

On the percussion front I'd have to single out Don Alias, he plays with Sanborn amongst many others - also Crystal Taliefero (Billys' percussionist) - she is just a complete star.

How do you feel about the new single 'Growing Up'?........

It should be a smash hit.......... it relates to everybody, so has a very wide appeal - everybody is or has 'grown up'. A bit vocally challenging towards the end for me though.

When you're not gigging yourself who do you like to go and see?............

My fave acts are; Tower of Power, Billy Joel, Madness, Howard Jones (yes - 80's pop star with the hair that was), Huey Lewis, Phil Collins, Blues Brothers Band (originals from the film). Love acts who tour with a horn section - none of this synth brass.

anyone you haven't managed to see yet?.........

Steely Dan & Jamiroquai - maybe one day.

Do you get to see much of the world while on tour? Where are your favourite places and why?.................

We get to see quite a few interesting places, although we're working we do make sure we get to do the touristy stuff aswell..........Venice is very unique - it has a character all of its own. We visited Vietnam for the first time this year - that is very different from western life.....friendly people....great place....chairs are really small for us though - that was a laugh. We joined some locals for a drink on the street (they don't have bars - just fridge's), so anyway, these chairs are so small its like going back to infant school. We went to a water puppet show in Hanoi - the same one Michael Palin went to on his travels - that was special.

Bangkok..........the night life with the right company can be an absolute scream!!!! ...........Hong Kongs good for a bargain. Anywhere in Greece is cool as its so laid back. You can eat & drink late - great for after a gig when you're starving.

Do you ever worry about your own safety visiting these exotic places?...........

.........only when we were at the top of Mount Etna a week before it erupted!!!! That was pretty eerie.

What don't you like about visiting foreign parts?.........

...... locals trying to sell you things that don't understand 'No thanks'!

Getting back to music - is there anyone else in your family that's musical?..........

My grandad used to play the sax and loved it. I really wish he was alive to have seen me make a career in music................he'd have been extremely proud.......... My brother is involved in the music business but on the other side of the fence - he's a video director and works with all the top bands - name a famous artist and he's probably worked with them. He does all the big events like 'Party In The Park' that sort of thing - aswell as individual tours all over the world.

OK to finish off.... What are your ambitions outside music?........

I'd like to take my motorbike test.......and fly over Niagra Falls in a helicopter......and I've got to get a dog at sometime - Martins' parents have an old english sheepdog called 'Ben' - he's adorable.........I hope to get a dog.......one day when we finish travelling.