Peter King passed away on Sunday just days after his 80th birthday. A world class alto saxophonist steeped in bebop and the innovations of Charlie Parker he famously played at the opening of Ronnie Scott's while still a teenager and his career stretched decades. He led his own band and regular quartet for years and along the way performed with a massive range of legendary jazz figures from Bud Powell and Elvin Jones to Max Roach, Frank Foster’s ‘new’ Count Basie Band and the Ray Charles Orchestra. The first time I heard him was in Berlin in the 1990s when he was playing in a three-alto feature with more jazz royalty in Phil Woods and Jackie McLean. In demand as a writer he wrote arrangements for the Charlie Watts Tentet and performed with the group, wrote for strings and even an opera, and appeared in several films. His honours included winning the BBC Musician of the Year accolade and to many fans particularly those steeped in bebop he was simply a musician for the ages.