AS one of the UK’s leading jazz musicians, you would have thought that YolanDa Brown would have enough on her plate.

But the saxophone star who is heading to Colne Muni next Friday as part of a tour marking her 10th anniversary in music, is also balancing her work as a radio and TV presenter and chairman of the national charity, Youth Music.

“It has been a bit tricky this year but I’m lucky that everything I’m involved in is interlinked,” she said. “Whether it’s doing a TV show or presenting there’s always something to inspire me which makes me want to run back and get into the music.”

In her role with Youth Music, which aims to make music more accessible to young people, YolanDa can often be found leading a workshop when she isn’t championing the charity’s work with leading politicians and educationalists.

“I can be at a Youth Music project watching some young musicians and that think I’d love to get back in there and feel what it’s like to be playing again. I’m never too far from my core music making which is good.

“But I am genuinely inspired by young people. I know not many people believe me when I say that, but there is something so natural and very innocent about a young person making music and losing themselves in that experience.”

Through her role with the charity, YolanDa is keen to take music to as many youngsters as possible.

“Growing up and learning music, I don’t remember having professional musicians coming in and saying this is how I make music.

“It is very important for me to go back and offer what I’ve got and what I know to them.

“The main thing to stress is the enjoyment you get from music and I love to see young people embracing that.”

As a multi-award winning artist. YolanDa is used to playing to audiences around the world but the reaction she gets from young people from her intimate sessions never fails to impress her.

“The response that always makes me chuckle,” she said. “As soon as I walk into an audience playing, they all clutch their chests marvelling at the vibration of the instrument and how powerful it is – I just love that. We have music all around us but live music is something else and to experience that up close and personal is a special thing. I don’t take offence when they cover their ears!”

Last year YolanDa released her acclaimed album Love Politics War, a blend of jazz, reggae and even blues.

“There is a constant demand for music now,” she said. “I remember being asked in the first interview I did after the album came out when I would be releasing my next album. But we are hoping to go into the studio in January. Being on the road so much this year has meant we have been able to work things out on stage and try things out which will really help.”

For the Colne date YolanDa promises some favourites, some jazz standards and some songs from Love Politics War.

“I have such a great band that we can just decide on the night what we’re going to play next,” she said.

YolanDa Brown, Colne Muni, Friday, November 2. Details from 01282 661234 or www.themuni.co.uk