John Cumming RIP

Someone wrote that: No-one ever put up a statue of a critic; the same is assuredly true of jazz promoters. But if any deserves one it is sure the gentle avuncular figure of John Cumming, who died on May 17 at the age of 71.

I first came across John as the promoter of the Bracknell Jazz Festival - an annual event that I still think of as the ideal festival. (But then I never got to Appleby.) Set in the spacious grounds of South Hill Park, the main arena was a large marquee, but more intimate gigs took place in the Recital Room of the Hall. And of course there was the added attraction of Lol Coxhill as announcer, entr'acte soloist and narrator of the unforgettable Murder in the Air. There were relatively comfortable chairs in the Marquee, a good beer tent, and though the food offered was the usual festival stuff there was a large branch of Waitrose close by where you could buy salads, pies and the like. The campsite was fine, although one year we found ourselves close to John Stevens' tent and had our sleep disturbed by late night cornet playing. (He apologised to us in the morning!)
The programming was acute and adventurous; there might be a jazz rock band on the Friday night- Jan Hammer one year- but the cream of the UK and US scene were consistently featured, notably Trevor Watts' trio followed by Ornette Coleman's Prime Time one night. Trevor won on points. I first heard Sheila Jordan there but did not fully appreciate her genius- she should have been on in the Recital Room. That room did host a solo gig by Stan Tracey that was later issued on lp as 'Hello Old Adversary'- though there was nothing he could complain about - for once- in the room's piano. I hope my enduring love of the record has not been influenced by the fact that the back cover shows my balding head faintly discernible reflected in the mirror at the back of the room.

John moved on to running the Camden Jazz Week, including a gig where the Leicester (DMU) Bley Band ( a student band which featured Gavin Bryars and my friend Conrad Cork) opened for Carla's own band. She was very complimentary, and Conrad's alto was singled out for praise in Charles Fox's review.

He also worked for the short-lived and much-missed Contemporary Music Network tours which brought us Don Cherry  (with an ailing but still wonderful Ed Blackwell), the ICP (where I persuaded Misha Mengelberg and Han Bennink to sign my copy of Dolphy's Last Date) Max Roach and George Russell among others.

Then he founded Serious Productions, running the London Jazz Festival. Will it continue this year?

He was knowledgable, unfailingly polite and helpful, and his organisational ability and deep love of jazz will be sorely missed.