Hugh Hopper, who died on 7 June, 2009, aged 64, was a bass guitarist best known for being part of the pioneering jazz fusion group Soft Machine.

He was originally the band’s road manager, but after contributing writing to their first album, he joined as bass player for their second, Volume Two (1969).

After four more albums, he left the group, from Canterbury in Kent, the spiritual home of jazz fusion, in 1972 and embarked on a prolific solo career, releasing more than 20 albums and working right up until a cancer diagnosis in 2008 halted his performing and recording work.

During his career he had worked with the likes of Syd Barrett on his solo records (Soft Machine were regular stage-mates with Pink Floyd in their early days), Mark Kramer, members of fellow ‘Canterbury Scene’ band Caravan, and several ex- Soft Machine members.

His output ranged from obscure experimental jazz work to more commercially viable rock recordings. In his fifties he was involved in several reunions with his old band, including the Soft Works touring group and the Soft Machine Legacy re-recordings.

He had most recently collaborated with composer Yumi Hara Cawkwell and was planning a tour of Japan with him, but his illness forced him to cancel the plans. Several benefit concerts were staged by former colleagues to help fund his treatment. He married his partner Christine on 5 June, two days before he died.