He may be only 11-years-old, but already his "resume m'' includes appearing with international jazz legends Bob Crenshaw, Hubert Laws, Freddie Hubbard, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Grady Tate and David Budway, as well as many top local musicians.

Indeed, Aaron Daniels has experienced more memorable musical moments than some people have in a lifetime -- and all because his mother Rosemarie loves the sound of a saxophone.

A single parent, Miss Daniels decided that when, at the age of nine, her only child expressed a desire to learn a second instrument -- he had already been studying piano for a year with Dr. Karol Sue Reddington at the Bermuda Conservatory of Music -- she told him it would have to be the big brass horn because that was her favourite.

For the first year, Aaron studied with Mr. Douglas Frith at the Bermuda Academy of Music, and last year he also received some free tuition from Bermuda Regiment bandmaster Barrett Dill.

Then, because he showed such promise, Miss Daniels enrolled him in Warwick Academy specifically because it offered a complete music programme. There, Aaron had the good fortune to be tutored by one of Bermuda's most gifted musicians, Mr. Wendell (Shine) Hayward, and under his expert eye the lad flourished.

It soon became obvious that, like many other youngsters falling under Mr.

Hayward's aegis at the school, Aaron was a gifted pupil. So much so, in fact, that when he joined the Bermuda National Youth Jazz Ensemble (BNYJE) he was -- and remains -- its youngest member by approximately three years.

This year alone Aaron has performed in the Premier's concert and travelled with the BNYJE to Lyme Regis in England, where he not only took part in the special festivities honouring Sir George Somers, but was also chosen to plant an oak tree in the grounds of the admiral's home.

Like that oak tree, Aaron's talents are growing, both academically and musically, and Miss Daniels -- a college graduate who works as warehouse manager at Graymane Construction Ltd. and also holds the rank of Officer Cadet in the Bermuda Regiment's Cadet Corps -- nurtures them carefully.

A diligent P7 student at Warwick Academy, he regularly receives commendations for such attributes as exemplary effort, good work and excellent behaviour, and lists science and biology as his favourite subjects.

He faithfully practises his piano and saxophone every day, rising at 6 a.m. to begin his day. Over time, people have given him unwanted musical instruments, including a drum, but since his mother's income does not stretch to lessons, he has bought a book and is teaching himself.

He lists Duke Ellington, Kenny G, Dave Koc and Jimmy Horn as his favourite musicians, and jazz and classical as his favourite forms of music.

He is also a keen sportsman who swims with the Sharks swimming club, is a member of the roller hockey league at the Pembroke Community Centre, rides every Sunday with the Bermuda Bicycle Association, and enters all competitions. Aaron is also a triathlete, and this summer travelled to Chicago as a member of the Tri-Hedz team which won five out of eight possible age groups at the biggest junior triathlon event in the world.

An avid reader, Aaron particularly likes the classics, such as Robinson Crusoe, Moby Dick and Little Women. Harry Potter, however, does not appeal.

"I like to read non-fiction -- statistical things, about the slaves underground railway, science books, and how things work,'' he says. "I also like looking at Children Like Me, which is about things they do and like in different countries. I have a large collection of books, including a reference section, in my bedroom.'' Aaron also likes reading newspapers and watching TV news with his mum, who can also be persuaded to "jam'' a little with him, even though she professes not to know music very well.

In fact, if there is such a thing as a "dream child'', Aaron must surely qualify.

In addition to being bright and talented, he willingly does his share of chores at home, including cleaning. Meticulous about his appearance, he irons his own clothes and also helps with the washing. He shines his shoes every day, and emerges from the end of a school day as neat as when he arrived.

"I have taught him to take care of his clothes because he understands I cannot afford to buy new things every year,'' Miss Daniels explains.

Aaron is also beginning to take an interest in cooking, and is presently trying to master making separate pancakes that don't merge into one another and burn.

Raised by a practical mother, Aaron understands that, while she will always do the very best she can for him on a single income, he must not expect luxuries just because other children have them. Thus he has learned that whatever comes his way over and above the necessities of life is a cherished bonus.

Like all children, of course, the lesson is sometimes harder to swallow than others, but Aaron also knows that he is acquiring an irreplaceable set of core values, including appreciating whatever life brings his way.

As a result, he is charming, personable -- "a real people person'' his mother admits -- but totally unspoiled.

As good as he is at everything else, it is as a musician that he seems to be making a real mark these days, and perhaps that is where his professional future really lies.

Certainly there are those who share this view, and others who are prepared to enhance this dream, like Mr. David Frost of Treble Clef Productions, who donated tickets for Aaron and his mother to attend the recent Jazz Legends 2000 concert at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts.

Following the sudden death of jazz saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, who was due to lead the event, and with whom Aaron had been promised a private lesson, his fellow visiting musicians learned of Aaron's talent and asked for the budding performer to join them on stage.

Invited to play whatever he wanted, Aaron's choice was `Amazing Grace' -- something he has performed many times before, even at funerals. It turned out that this was also to be the choice of one of the visiting musicians, who graciously changed his selection to accommodate Aaron.

While the young Bermudian stood in the wings, wearing his special tie with its saxophone motif and the real thing slung around his neck, bassist Ben Crenshaw announced that, with the passing of Mr. Turrentine, Aaron's presence signified "a passing of the torch'' from one generation to another.

"We hope that this young man can follow in the footsteps of someone like Stanley,'' he said. "I am going to follow his career all the way through.'' Cucumber-cool, Aaron then swung into a performance so good and so touching that it earned him the only standing ovation of the night -- and warm hugs from the pros.

Arising out of that event, Mr. Crenshaw publicly and personally pledged to follow Aaron's progress always, and also promised he would be speaking to the legendary Sonny Rollins about helping him too.

In the offing is the gift of a saxophone from Mr. Turrentine's widow, Judith.

As if performing with these famous professional musicians was not enough, the Department of Tourism also gave Aaron complimentary tickets to attend the big Jazzfest performances at Dockyard last weekend.

This time, Miss Daniels -- who works hard to ensure that her son has a balanced life -- decided that Aaron's treat should be a "boys night out'', and thus gave her ticket to his godfather, Mr. Charlie Grant.

On Sunday evening, however, mother and son attended the Jazzmatazz concert in Victoria Park, where the youngster was spotted in the audience by top guitarist Randy Lambert, who invited him to perform with his group, The Jazz Masters.

Again, Aaron's performance had the crowd clapping along as he played, and cheering him enthusiastically afterwards -- and all this after he had won a trophy in a nail-biting finish at a duathalon meet earlier in the day.

Certainly, any 11-year-old could be forgiven for letting such adulation go to his head, but because his mother has instilled in him the value of humility, Aaron remains modest about his achievements, and goes about his life without fuss. It is clear, however, that he revels in the precious moments when he shares the spotlight with the pros.

Of his multi-faceted life, Aaron's mother says: "The whole idea is for him to experience a variety of things in the hope that it not only brings him great joy, but also allows him to make some decisions later on in life which will bring him the greatest happiness, so that he can head in that direction.

Obviously, we hope that his experiences will create opportunities for him because I don't have much money.'' As befits an eleven-year-old, however, Aaron sees his future as one of several possibilities.

"I want to be saxophone player, or a biologist, or a pilot, or I would like to work as an entertainer on a cruise ship,'' he suggests.