John Harle (born 20 September 1956 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is an English saxophonist and composer. Attracted to minimalist music, he became a founding member of the Michael Nyman Band, with which he performed from 1981-1999. Harle was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle and traces his love of history to being taught there by William Feaver, now The Observer's art critic. Harle heard alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges perform with Duke Ellington's band in the early 1970s