John Butcher is an English tenor and soprano saxophone player born in 1954 in Brighton, England. He taught himself to play the saxophone during the 1970s while studying physics at the University of Surrey. During this period, he met Chris Burn, with whom he began playing free jazz. In the 1980s, he shifted his focus from academic pursuits to music, performing in a quartet with Burn and joining various ensembles including a trio with Phil Durrant and John Russell, as well as the band News from the Shed with Paul Lovens and Radu Malfatti. The debut album, Fonetiks (1984), was released with Burn. He later released numerous albums such as Concert Moves (1995), London & Cologne Solos (1996), and 12 Milagritos (1998). He also started the label Acta. Notable collaborations include work with Vanessa Mackness, Georg Graewe, and Gino Robair.
