John Taylor, leading UK pianist

Roger Farbey pays tribute to John Taylor, the inspirational virtuoso pianist and stalwart of the jazz scene for almost 50 years, who has died suddenly during a festival in France

Virtuoso pianist John Taylor (pictured right) has died suddenly aged 72. He was performing on Friday 17 July at a jazz festival in Western France when he suffered a heart attack. Although successfully resuscitated at the venue he died later in hospital on Saturday 18 July.

Taylor was a stalwart of the British jazz scene from the late 1960s onwards, later becoming an internationally renowned player. He made substantial contributions to recordings by Harry Beckett, Graham Collier, Alan Skidmore and John Surman. He also played on Edge of Time, the debut album by his former wife Norma Winstone. His own debut album Pause And Think Again featured a host of leading British jazz musicians including Surman and Kenny Wheeler.

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