John Cumming

Scottish impresario Born: 30th September 1948 Edinburgh, Scotland Died: 17th May 2020 London, England Though primarily known as a jazz promoter and festival director, a career in theatre brought to found the Bracknell Jazz Festival while Director of Theatre and Arts programming at South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell, England. After moving to London in 1977, he founded the Camden Jazz Week before going on to co-found the London Jazz Festival in 1993. Founded the production and artist management company Serious Production in 1984 with John Ellson and co-founded the European Jazz Network. Mentored young talent through the Take Five programme whose alumni includes Seb Rochford, Jules Buckley, Nubya Garcia and Shabaka Hutchings Appointed an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2014.