In my opinion this man is one of the finest and most innovative jazz guitarists this century. We were good friends early on in our careers - 1958 onwards but from 1971 we lost contact. I have always kept up with his career and known that he was the one who would stand out from the rest of us. Believe me none of the guitar players I'm talking about are slouches. We are all world class, but John was a superior player and musician. We used to get on well and when I started to study Indian music he became enthralled in the rhythm aspect of the music. We got together a few times with a tabla and drummer Criss Karan. I played sitar, John guitar and Criss tabla. I was writing pieces of music that were half Indian and half Folk. The first piece I wrote was called "The Koan" and it was in 21/8. At this time I was preparing to make a Sitar album for Polydor and I wanted John to play on this particular track, he did, have a listen. <<The Koan>> How about that? This was in 1967 and even then he knew where he was going. We played on lots of sessions together and he was never really into what he had to play on the sessions. When he decided to go to America it came as no surprise to me. I knew he would be accepted over there and I was right, he was recording with Miles Davis within a few days of being in America. I know from my own experience in America that talent is much more appreciated there than here. When I arrive in Los Angeles to make Tom Jones TV shows, Louis Belson invited me to play with his band at Dontes Jazz club. I was appreciated by the jazz players openly for the first time in my life, so I knew how John must have felt. Of all the guitarists in the world John has the most innovative. Think about it, it was he who laid down the foundations for fusion. Bringing the heavy sound of Hendrix into jazz music. He also brought Indo Jazz fusion's to its climax. It was because of him that Indian musicians started to get involved with western music culture. John now seems to have gone back to the roots and is playing electric guitar again. His sheer taste and musicianship shines through today as fresh as it did 31 years ago and the man will always have my deepest respect.