When it comes to making jazz, Brian Wesley is all about making it his own.

Wesley, a senior finishing up his Bachelor of Arts in music, is putting on a senior recital at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Kimbrough 115.

While his program doesn’t require the student to perform a final recital, Wesley said he thought it was important to bring together everything he’s learned throughout his years at WSU.

“I wanted a capstone on my experience here; there’s so much that’s happened, it’d be a shame to not have a performance that celebrated it,” he said.

Wesley said he first picked up the saxophone in high school after playing clarinet for years in middle school.

“I just felt like I could get a lot more out of the sax,” he said, adding that the design of the instrument allows for each musician to individualize the sounds it makes.

He said his desire for expressiveness was fed when he began to listen to more jazz.

“In jazz you’re afforded the freedom to craft your own voice out of everything you listen to,” he said.

During his years in high school, Wesley said he visited WSU multiple times to perform in music groups and chose to attend after seeing the quality of the jazz program and becoming familiar with the campus.

During his recital Wesley said he’ll perform songs that helped influence his playing style, including “Passion Dance” by McCoy Tyner and “What If” by Jerry Bergonzi, two songs that feature intervals that are different from most songs.

“(‘What If’s’) name implies the way the song progresses … it keeps the audience guessing at what comes next,” he said.

Dave Hagelganz, an instructor of saxophone, said Wesley has worked hard over the years to craft a style all his own.

“It’s not perfect yet, but he’s always working on it and getting better. It’s admirable,” he said.

Wesley said he’s begun applying to grad schools, where he hopes to earn a master’s and eventually teach in a community college, as well as possibly publish books on music theory, desiring to put some of his ideas on paper.

Reporting by Dustin VandeHoef