WITH her session musician grandfather having played saxaphone alongside greats such as Buddy Holly, there’s little wonder Jasmine Kittermaster entered the business herself.

It’s definitely been an adventure for this gifted 32-year old Kent pianist and singer who has travelled the world many time over during the last 10 years as a cruise-ship cocktail bar musician.

From an early age she knew she had a strong interest in music, but with some amusement she reveals that it was one of only two subjects she failed at school. But she wasn’t about to be deterred and with classical piano lessons under her belt set sail with her new profession.

"It was an absolutely brilliant time working on cruise ships, you get very close to other musicians you work with, even if you might never see them again after a few months of being on board together. I didn’t actually get to see that much when I was travelling as we were on board so much.

"One of my favourite gigs was not really a gig at all - I was just playing piano on my own in the bar and there was a guy who had been there all along and said that the song I was playing really moved him as it reminded him of his wife."

Though her line of work is not known for its massive earning potential, one show in particular playing to a private party on board a super-yacht in Monte Carlo to Sydney Poitier and a group of Arabian sheiks proved a real money-spinner.

"I earned £1000 playing for just 40 minutes," she said of the memorable occasion.

Now based near Tonbridge with her husband Nigel, she continues to play a wealth of gigs around the county, from small gatherings of friends to functions and restaurants.

As Jasmine explains, she’s able to quickly gauge her audiences and performs impressively varied sets including everything from classic 1970s pop ballads to present chart hits.

Though she is due to become a mother in the summer, there’s little let up with a series of shows across the county.

On top of this she has an events company to manage which caters for wedding entertainment. "My big challenge at the moment is preparing to be a mum and will be playing, but I am not going to let it stop my career which I love. I’ll take a couple of months off and be straight back gigging!"

Jasmine is playing a number of gigs in the county including: Saturday, March 11 at the Spotted Cow in Larkfield; The Queens Inn Hawkhurst on Friday, March 17; The Sommerhill, Pembury Road, Tonbridge on Friday, March 24; and The Forresters Arms in Paddock Wood on Friday, March 31.