Paul Rutherford

Born February 29, 1940 in London, died August 5, 2007 there, (aged 67). British jazz musician, member of the "free music" scene. Played trombone, euphonium and piano. He started on saxophone in the mid-'50s, then switched to trombone and played in Royal Air Force bands from 1958 to 1963. He formed the Spontaneous Music Ensemble in 1965 with John Stevens (2), then the Iskra 1903 trio in 1970. He went in many collectives experiences (London Jazz Composers Orchestra, Globe Unity Orchestra…) and did solo trombone records. He began developing an unusual trombone language in the mid-'70s, mixing electronics, vocal effects, traditional jazz devices, and intriguing sounds and voicings. Eugene Chadbourne wrote about him: "...he's the most significant non-American to appear in jazz since Django Reinhardt over four decades ago".