In 1983, I telephoned John Taylor to ask whether he might consider being part of my ensemble for a BBC broadcast. He didn’t know me and he’d certainly never heard my music, but he said yes. We stayed in touch. Then John called asking if I would produce his 1987 Arts Council tour of the quartet Foil, happy for me to make mistakes as I basically learned on the job.
We continued to work together: Kenny Wheeler, Peter Erskine, Charlie Mariano, Julian and Steve Argüelles, the Creative Jazz Orchestra, his trio with Palle Danielsson and Martin France. Commissions were secured: Ambleside Days, Requiem For A Dreamer, Exits and Entrances and The Green Man, with the first three forming part of a wonderful discography that is largely still available. Those in possession of his numerous radio broadcasts (particularly those on ageing cassettes) will be guarding them very closely.
A champion of younger musicians when perhaps others of his generation were not, he loved the energy and excitement they brought to his music. He always had time for everyone and was happy to give many of us, like me, a helping hand whenever it was needed. John left us all with wonderful memories, and so much more.
