A SMOOTH blues musician will be performing at a popular Manningtree pub with his band.

Tom Waters is well-known to Red Lion regulars having accompanied his dad Ben at his gigs there for the past six years.

The youngster is now returning to the venue in his own right with his band the Ferocious Five on Friday, July 5.

Tom is becoming one of England’s greatest exponents for blues and jazz saxophone.

Having played with members of the Rolling Stones, Ray Davies and Jools Holland, he has already made a name for himself.

Touring with his dad, Ben Waters, he got to see a lot of the world from an early age and to play with second-line bands in Chicago to pop bands in Canada.

Tom shows a wide range of versatility and creativity in his playing.

He is influenced by Ray Charles’ sax players from Hank Crawford to David ‘Fathead’ Newman and studies the style in which they play.

He is also a big fan of their sound and plays songs in a similar idiom.

He also draws influence from David Sanborn and Nigel Hitchcock.

Tom has seen much of the world, from Argentina to New Zealand, and has even played jazz at the Glee Club in Tokyo.

Tom is currently studying at the sixth form at the Purcell School of Music and also attends the Royal Academy of Music.

His band, the Ferocious Five, features guitar, drums, double bass, trombone and a second saxophone.

They will play groovy, funky jazz including a sprinkling of original tunes.

Tickets priced £12 are available from the Red Lion and from redlionmanningtree.co.uk.

Doors open at 8pm for an 8.30pm start.