Classically trained as a cellist, John toured and recorded as such with Keith Tippet’s Centipede, an early cross-over group, and subsequently appeared with, among others, Yehudi Menuhin and Peter Pears. He moved over to double bass and bass guitar in the late 1970s.
A list of those with whom he has worked in jazz and also theatre music (in nineteen countries) would constitute a show-business encyclopedia.
In all of this he has found time to act as visiting teacher of jazz double bass and bass guitar at Eton College and to tutor several hundred jazz workshops nationwide.
Now, after deputising frequently with Humphrey Lyttelton’s band in recent times, he brings his vast experience to the band on a permanent basis (‘the permanent bassist, in other words, and I get that in before he does!’ H.L.)