Uno speciale omaggio a John Stevens (1940-1994) a trent'anni dalla scomparsa si tiene domani da pomeriggio a sera a Ealing, Londra negli spazi del centro artistico-culturale Open: musica dal vivo con la partecipazione tra gli altri di Maggie Nicols, John Butcher, Dominic Lash, Ollie Bruce e Mark Wastell, proiezione di rari materiali video d'epoca tratti da interviste e concerti, un excursus documentario lungo le tappe cruciali dei trent'anni di attività di Stevens in diversi campi musicali e un laboratorio didattico condotto da Nicols secondo il metodo ideato e praticato dal batterista nella sua famosa serie Search & Reflect, volta a sviluppare la creatività e le capacità di ascolto e intervento dei partecipanti.
"Over a period of 30 years, Stevens made a vital contribution to the evolution of what became known as 'free jazz': that genre of improvisation which was born of jazz but grew beyond a reliance on the conventional elements of melody, harmony and rhythm. To Stevens, however, music was 'free' in a wider sense: free, that is to say, of hierarchy. While he admired the old masters almost immoderately, and believed wholeheartedly in the development and refinement of individual skills, he nevertheless shared with the musicians of non-Western cultures the knowledge that there is more than that to music. His truest gift was as an organiser of music, and many amateur musicians, as well his professional peers, will retain fond memories of making music with him, whether in community music workshops or on the concert stage. Few will have escaped without acquiring a deeper understanding of how such an experience could sharpen the senses and enrich the sensibility of the player." (Richard Williams)