A PORTISHEAD trumpet player is hoping to introduce British music lovers to a trend that is currently sweeping America.

North Somerset Times: Martin Sanders with his new jazz CD.Martin Sanders with his new jazz CD. (Image: Archant)

Former Gordano School student Martin Sanders has released a smooth jazz CD which he hopes will prove popular in the UK.

The 53-year-old said: “There is a big trend in the USA at the moment towards smooth jazz which combines melodic and commercial tunes with lyrical improvised jazz. It’s a really up-to-the-minute music genre.

“My album introduces a British-like version of this, along with some European cool jazz and crosses the two styles over.”

Until he was 50, Martin combined his musical hobbies with a day-job at Lloyds bank in Nailsea, Clevedon and Portishead. He then decided to take the plunge and make music his full-time career.

He concentrated on developing the path of his established covers group, Spectrum Party Band and reactivated his interest in popular commercial jazz.

The musician says his debut album was artistically inspired by the good vibes of London during 2012 and he has named it accordingly.

London 2012, Jazz in the City, was recorded in the Portishead studio of producer Hill Briggs. It can be bought by visiting www.martinsanders.biz