By Steven Psyllos

ANDREW LAMB

BORN IN North Carolina, grew up and lives in Queens. Plays the tenor saxophone, several flutes and conch shells. Has played with heavyweights such as Roy Campbell, Cecil Taylor, Alan Silva and Wilber Morris. Working collaborations include the Moving Form, the Dogon Duo and the Andrew Lamb Trio. Had his calling in the late 70s, at age 17, when he was "haunted by the sound of the saxophone." Learned his instrument through repeating the songs he heard on the radio. Attended the University of Old Westbury to hone his skills so that he could "really go after the things in my imagination." Uses his breath to voice blessings. Brass monk.

How much of this is a craft? A great deal of it is craft; you have to study this. You also need other elements to enhance your imagination. This is not something you run through. If this is your profession, how you feed your family, how you take care of your household, then you're speaking of longevity. You have to be really serious about this or something else is gonna have to come and supplement you to live. You have to be able to expound upon it, be able to teach, work with different organizations. It is to your advantage to be able to be a part of the entire musical situation. Your passion, that's a different thing.

Talk about expression. There's a need for expression within all of us, especially with children. Sometimes they speak but they go unheard; some just keep their emotions in. I'm part of the Arts & Education Program at Brooklyn Arts Council and at Community Works Program. That allows me to go into schools and do assembly programs. I want to teach them how to help heal themselves by playing an instrument, picking up a pen and paper or painting something. That's a tremendous power. The music is deeper than just playing in clubs.

How do you allow the improvised moment? You have to have kindred spirits around you to achieve that. It is a form of telepathy. People are listening to each other, sharing ideas and supporting each other all at the same time. That's like breathing together. If it's not that way, you know it.

What inspires you day to day? There's no timetable, no light switch when the moment of inspiration happens. It's about keeping that instrument in your hands so when it happens, you're prepared for the opportunity. You have to be open; you have to have humility. If you are egotistical, thinking it's all about you, then you're closing the channel.

Andrew Lamb is playing at 3 p.m. on       Sun., July 25 at the FusionArts          Museum, 57 Stanton St. (betw.          Eldridge & Forsythe Sts.), 212-995-      5290. His Andrew Lamb Trio CD,       The Pilgrimage, is out now.