Roger Tempest, born in 1947, is an arranger, composer and interpreter of music. He has written many works including Concerto for Alto Sax and Orchestra; a Nativity for junior schools; The Citadel at Entrevaux for wind orchestra and various piano pieces which include 4 Minutes in the Life of a Hen. He is also working on a jazz album for tenor saxophone. A selection of his works is also available on SoundCloud.  His website is www.rogertempest.co.uk.

His aim is to write challenging yet accessible music, sometimes with an element of humour and satire!  His style has been likened to a mixture of Gershwin and Finzi.

Some more details - Few musicians happily reconcile playing church organ with soprano sax in a Bollywood band and jazz festivals in such places as Borneo, Reunion Island and Transylvania, but such is the varied musical environment of pianist/ saxophonist Roger Tempest. Born in Birmingham in 1947, he began piano lessons at 7, started the clarinet at 11, began O-level music mainly because he disliked chemistry – and soon found himself hooked on Beethoven and Schubert.

Graduating from the Birmingham Conservatoire (then the Birmingham School of Music) in 1968 as a pianist and clarinettist, Roger worked as a player and teacher, becoming 1st clarinet in the Melachrino Orchestra and working in shows with John Thaw, Harry Secombe and Roy Hudd amongst others. He also took up the flute and saxophone and became interested in jazz, starting his own band which played successfully for many years.

Reverting to his classical origins in recent years, he now concentrates on composing and establishing the tenor sax as a serious instrument,  plays lots of Bach, and enjoys piano accompaniment and church organ!