Vasilis Xenopoulos is on a quest.

The multi-talented jazz musician has made it his mission to bring his personally-stamped brand of music to the younger masses.

And with the effort it has taken the Athens-born saxophonist to get to his current position, don’t bet against him having the kids eating out of his hand sometime soon.

He explains: “I would say my main goal now is to take the music and make it more approachable to younger audiences.

“I have got to play a lot of gigs over the years but it has mostly been to older crowds.

“They are more aware of the history and respectful of the genre.

“But if you can get kids interested, when they do not have the same depth of understanding - that would be a total dream.”

Xenopoulos was plucked from obscurity from his home in Athens to become a popular fixture on the jazz scene in the Greek capital.

And he admits he was grateful to his former teachers for giving him the breaks.

He adds: “My musical education had nothing to do with my family - it had more to do with natural talent being discovered by my schoolteachers.

“I started on the piano and clarinet when I was eight, but I really started taking thing seriously when I began playing the saxophone at 13.

“By the age of 16 I was turning professional, and pretty soon I was playing all around Athens and appearing on national television.”

But if you think it was all sweetness and light for Vasilis - think again.

He reveals: “It was hard for me because everybody I was with in the bands were in their 30s so I had no one to talk to.

“Plus I was the first professional musician in the family and it took them a long time to get used to the idea.”

After studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA Xenopoulos returned to Greece before moving to London, and has been residing in Ealing ever since.

And with his own group, as well as helping out with the Eddie Harvey Sextet, he has plenty on his plate.

Xenopoulos adds: “It is great working with Eddie as he was a teacher for one of my friends and I have known him for a long while.

“I enjoy being part of the sextet, and obviously having my own group is still a big thrill.

“I am always looking to change things - at the moment I am trying to mix the jazz vibe with a more modern groove.

“I will always try and shake things up.”

Eddie Harvey Sextet, Way Out West, Ram Jam Club, Kingston, Wednesday 1 October, 8pm, £7/£9, 020 8567 2004