Book of Remembrance

With Jon’s passing a huge part of my musical upbringing has gone with him. At school in the 70’s my first introduction to his spectacular playing was through ALW’s ‘Variations’. To a kid who only listened to classical and ALW (!) this was a revelation - I promptly looked out the Colosseum II LPs, and the knock-on was a lifelong love of fusion and progressive rock. I was lucky enough to fix Paraphernalia for a gig at Marlborough College, exchanging emails with Barbara and Jon and finally getting to meet two of my all-time musical heroes. Chatting to Jon at the gig I was humbled by his down-to-earth musician-to-musician respect with me as I bombarded him with questions such as “what time signature is ‘Listen To The Plants’ in” (answer - “ I don’t know, but I can tell you how to play it!”). I have my signed copies of Playing the Band and About Time Too as further special memories. Now Director of Music in a senior school, I ensure the youth of today are aware of greatness from the past. In the minibus yesterday, returning from a Music Tour, I played ‘Intergalactic Strut’ over the speakers. As the magnificently detailed, yet rock steady alternating 4/4 5/4 groove filled the bus, the kids looked up from their phones and were engrossed in the wonderful musicianship on display. RIP Jon, and love to all your family. One of the world’s greatest has been taken from us.... Collapse