http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8502621.stm

Yes. RIP Sir John.

We are all so sorry to hear of Sir John's death. My brother played with him and Cleo a few times years ago, and my daughter last year. He was a lovely man and wonderful musician, and so kind and supportive of young musicians. It is such a shame he was not able to see the 40 year celebrations last night.
He will be really missed by all ages.
xx

I was very sad when I saw the news this morning. I'm thankful I saw him perform live around 25 years ago - it was a fantastic evening.

Very sad news. RIP.

RIP

When I was a Leeds College of Music (ahem years ago!) John spent a week working with the Big Band. He was a very nice man indeed who gave everyone as much of his time as they wanted. We all learned a lot.

Great player, great arranger and great ambassador for jazz in this country - one of the few british jazz musicians that the British public could name.

RIP, John.

I went on a childrens music camp which he ran at his place which is close to where I live around 30 yrs ago and still have fond memories of it. RIP Johnnie !

Very sad. A wonderful man.

Fantastic family to carry on with the show.

Yes, a sad day indeed - another great jazz musician gone.

'Suite for Emma' I did in Fleet last year...

Fine musician, fine composer. Will be sadly missed.

In the mid 1970's I bought a newly-published book about "Great Contemporary pianists". Of all of them only two are still alive - Martha Argarich and Byron Janis ... and Byron Janis is in his 80's.

Every year I see that two or three more heroes of my youth and young adulthood have gone the way that we all will go eventually. I usd to keep alist, but they are disappearing at such a rate now ... I feel like I am moving into the firing line.

I have always felt that great music always makes you feel what it means to be mortal, and the closeness of the two great eternities, past and present that mark out each human existence.

A few years ago I was on holiday in New York. I was chatting to a local and mentioned that I was going to the Blue Note that night. I had no idea who was playing, it was was just fulfilling a long held desire to go to this legendary jazz club. Said local then burst my bubble by saying that the Blue Note had kinda sold out, it's not where it's at man, if you want to listen to real jazz then you should go.....

Due to this, I wasn't expecting too much, and indeed the night didn't start off too great as the customer experience there was a touch harsh. Standing in line (see, I've got the American lingo right) with my girlfriend, we get to the front and a guy barks 'Table or bar?' I didn't realise there was a choice, and of course you have to pay a good bit more for a table. Clearly, the right answer is 'Table', especially if you want to impress your girlfriend. I said, "err, what do you think love?......" So the host guy barks back 'tell ya what buddy, you stand there and think about it and let these other people through.' Charming.

It being a holiday we splashed out and took a table and enjoyed (at least I did) a great contemporary jazz trio who turned out to be from the UK. Near the end of the show, the performers said the usual 'thanks for being a great audience.....and a special thanks to some friends of ours who've come along for the show - John Dankworth & Cleo Laine . I was pretty excited, as it felt like I hanging out with the stars at the places they like to go. So much for the Blue Note not being where it's at, man.

I also remember with great affection coming to like the music of Johnny Dankworth in the 50s. It started with me buying a 10" LP called "Journey Into Jazz" and later included the classic LP "Five Steps to Dankworth". I still have both of them, in playable condition. Who can ever forget the memorable "Experiments With Mice" that took him to the top of the Hit Parade? Gimmicky, yes, but very popular.

He was indeed a great man of music.

Sad news, although I was thrilled to see and listen to his son Alec Dankworth playing Bass at Woking last September for the New Woking Jazz Circle, along with Ken Peplowski (clarinet and saxophone), Alan Barnes (clarinet), John Pearce (piano) and Martin Drew (drums). A small but filled hall, it was a great evening sitting only a few feet away from them.