Performing
John has appeared on television, radio, and at over 200 venues across the UK, including Alban Arena (St Albans), Bass Clef (Hoxton), Bear Club (Luton), BedfordBalham), Cadogan Hall (Chelsea), Grand Theatre (Wolverhampton), MK Theatre (Milton Keynes), National Indoor Arena (Birmingham), New Theatre (Peterborough), Pizza Express (Soho), Stables (Wavendon), and Village Underground (Shoreditch, London). He has performed at numerous festivals, including the London, Kent, and Cheltenham Jazz Festivals, the International Festival (Milton Keynes), Scotland’s Voices Festival (St Andrews), and the UK Blues Festival. As part of "Wren and Bowman," performing alongside his long-time collaborator Martyna Wren, John has opened at several venues for Jools Holland and played at various private events for celebrity clients, including Sir Tim Rice and Sir Michael Parkinson. John has performed and recorded with Uganda's legendary "Afrigo Band" both in London and Kampala. In addition to being a prolific soloist, John has arranged music for and performed with numerous ensembles, ranging from piano trio to full orchestra.
Rachel Oates Photography
Recording
John has recorded extensively as a session musician for a range of artists from the UK and Africa. John particularly enjoys working with emerging artists, having appeared on over 100 albums and EPs, mainly accompanying singer/songwriters and collaborating with other jazz musicians. He composed and recorded “Jinja” as band leader, and 12 solo albums: Tana, Skye, Gone, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Henry V, Twelfth Night, The Dream, The Tempest, Romeo & Juliet, Midsummer, Macbeth, and The Merchant of Venice.
Teaching
John studied at the London College of Music, specialising in composition and jazz, before gaining a PGCE from the Open University. In 2002, John and his wife Joy founded Notivate, an organisation dedicated to inspiring, supporting and encouraging children and young people through music. He is author and leader of the “Notivate Singer/Songwriter Programme”, which has helped over 7,000 children in youth groups, mainstream and special education to compose, perform and record their own songs.
As Programme Director for Notivate, John has led songwriting and recording workshops in Africa, and helped to develop specially dedicated recording facilities in Jinja (Uganda) and Antananarivo (Madagascar), as well as training teams of local Notivate Programme leaders.
As a workshop leader John has taught jazz improvisation in schools, at The Stables in Wavendon (UK), Kampala Music School (Uganda) and in Antananarivo (Madagascar). He also provides piano tuition, specialising in vocal accompaniment and jazz. Former students include internationally acclaimed rock/pop artists, theatre performers, session musicians, jazz improvisers and songwriters.
