As is evident from the title, the words for July reflect what we’ve been doing during the lockdown…staying in and trying to do business and keep in contact with our loved ones, via video conferencing. 

As cremations go – and I’ve been to too many – it was unusual. How often do you tap your toe to a line of jazz while thinking, why has this bloke been carted away so early when I know of a few who deserve an earlier demise? 

Anyone who joined John Cumming and me at Bore Place in Kent or the Tolbooth in Stirling between 2005 – 2017 for the talent development programmes Take Five and Air Time, knows that it was always my job to do the ‘housekeeping announcements’.

Founder of the London Jazz Festival and the music production company Serious, generous and stimulating friend, mentor and colleague to many, John Cumming has died at home in the bower of love and comfort that he created with his wife Ginnie and daughter Kate.