John's musical journey began in Leicester, where he discovered 'acid jazz' as a teenager. Whilst investigating the roots of acid jazz he was introduced to the name Herbie Hancock, which opened the door to a world of jazz and sparked a lifelong love affair with the genre.

He went on to earn a Bachelor of Music from the University of Manchester. There, he delved into the complete discography of Hancock (which was not as easy to collect in those days, before Spotify and streaming music!), and immersed himself in the music of Chet Baker, Oscar Peterson, hard bop, bossa nova, and much more.

He continued his musical education at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he earned a Master of Arts in Performance. Here he was surrounded by orchestral musicians in addition to 'jazzers', and he formed a large jazz ensemble utilising a harpist and string players at the conservatoire. He was awarded the Peter Whittingham Development Award, which gave him the opportunity to record "Live At The Forge," an album of his jazz compositions written for this 13-piece ensemble.

As a musical explorer, always searching for new sounds and new ways to express himself, he then formed a flamenco-infused band. With the support of Arts Council England the band recorded "Crossing The Threshold", an intoxicating mesh of handclaps, foot stamps, jazz harmony, improvisation, and dance.

John currently performs with two trios: a trio with bass/drums, and a trio with guitar/bass. He recently recorded with the latter group in March 2023, releasing a series of singles. He is also a sought-after accompanist, performing live and recording in studios for countless artists and projects. Whether performing with his trio or accompanying other artists, his live performances are a passionate exploration of swing, beauty, and life.

And when the night's over and the last note's been played, he heads back to his West London home, where he lives with his wife and three young children.