You're one of Australia's premier bassists, having played, performed and recorded for several decades... can you give us a little background the road that led you here?  

Sure. Along with R&B, Funk & Soul I've always had an empathy for the music of Marcus Miller. Lee Rittenour Larry Carlton. Dave Sanborn etc. It is very difficult here in Australia with our small population to support this style of music. Many musicians find themselves playing many genres of music to survive. As artists before me have found, you reach a certain stage here then have to go overseas to progress.

The USA is the biggest market for what I like to create, I can't wait to get back there. Not forgetting Canada, Europe & Japan.

You've recently released your first solo recording FORGOTTEN MELODY which is being met with great enthusiasm around the world. Why so long in the making?

I've played in so many situations & freelanced with a multitude of acts as a sideman. Along the way I have been in bands with recording contracts with singles and albums out and have written or co-written on some songs. I also have previuosly been down the searching for publishing and recording deals on my own.

The music I created for myself was once again described by the record companies here as not suitable for the Australian market and more for the USA at that time. So I decided to work for other people. I had to survive, I have 2 twin girls that needed attention. 20 years down the track I found myself still going around the same block and actually getting bored with no satisfaction. I decided to stop playing with everyone else & concentrate on my own music. I also have severe tinnitus and could'nt stand playing in any loud situations. I moved to the coast looked at the bits and pieces I had written, pulled them into shape got together with my friend Ash Crick, called some friends and with the aid of Investors that believed in me went into the studio to record FORGOTTEN MELODY.

What are your plans to support FORGOTTEN MELODY? A tour perhaps?

Yes exactly. I want to tour USA, Canada, Europe & Japan hopefully next summer. I really miss gigging. The band will feature 2 bass players. I've already made some phone calls. Being indepenadant is hard. I don't have a manager, agent or the machine of a major record company to organise all those things. But I am lucky that I have come so far on my own with my partner Ash and to have met people like yourselves who have been a great support getting my music out all over the world.

In addition to being a world renown bassist, you are also the creator of the critically acclaimed Wayne Jones Speaker Enclosures. How did you get into the equipment manufacturing business?

I made my first bass speaker cab with my dad years ago as I needed a second cab and couldn't afford it. I gained knowledge along the way, especially searching for that certain individual sound all us bass players look for. I realised what made certain cabs sound the way they do. I have used most brand of bass rigs and was a clinician here in Australia for an Import Co. that brought in Trace Elliot amps. I did many clinics and master classes for them and got to know how the design & equipment worked. One day I suggested they make a cab a certain way. They said they already had. It wasn't what I thought it would be so I set out to design my own line of cabs.

My first designs were in the mid-price range for the everyday player and I sold a few. My second deisgn was to be the highest quality, no expense spared cab to produce the sound I needed. They surpassed my Initial Idea and are almost Studio Monitors. We actually mixed the album through a pair then mastered on Quested's. They were virtually accalimed best high end cab by Bassplayer Mag in 2001. (Marcus Miller has two in his studio.) My market was the USA and unfortunately, September 11th put a halt to that. Once again I did it with no company behind me and limited capital. I am actaully looking into starting up again.

What is the status of Smooth Jazz in Australia? Let's make this a two-parter question... In your experience, does being an Australian jazz musician come with unique challenges that we may not encounter here in the U.S.?

Smooth Jazz is loved here just as anywhere else in the world. There is no comparison to your festivals though. It is a growing minority market here that is not very well catered for.

Smooth Jazz Commercial Radio stations are virtually non existant. The only stations that play this music are community, Govt. and Internet stations. There seems to be more demand from the 30 to 65 age group. I get people in that age bracket and much younger loving my CD but there is really nowhere I can play live to follow this up. The small amount of venues and festivals are not worth my time to do, so I look to overseas.

The challanges of being an Australian jazz musician are unique. Once again it's the lack of population to support it. We have some great Jazz players here. E.G James Morrison on Trumpet for one. He too has to venture out of the country to tour. He has built quite a name for himself and usually headlines the small amount of festivals here also. I will look to this after I have toured overseas. You just don't see this with jazz. All other genres of bands that reach a certain level have to do this also.

If you could recommend one thing that everyone should do when visiting Australia, what would that be?

There are so many great things to see and do here that are unique. Definitely check out the beaches in summer. In Melbourne the resteraunts, cafe's and nightlife are great. A trip down the Great Ocean Road is a must. Winneries too. When I worked with Hugh McCracken here he and his wife Holly took off down the great Ocean Road and visited the wineries here in my state. Sydney has Darling Harbour, Gold coast in Queensland, The Great Barrier Reef. The list goes on.