[Dixielandjazz] Humph

[John Petters]

Greetings Folks,
Really sad to hear about Humph. He was a very special person and one of 
the greatest jazz musicians the UK produced. His records with George 
Webb's Dixielanders founded the traditional jazz revival in this 
country. He illegally recorded with Bechet (a stupid ban by the 
Musician's Union made it illegal for American musicians to perform in 
the UK ) His records for Parlophone with Webb, Wally Fawkes etc. stand 
up as some of the best recordings of British jazz. He had a commanding 
lead and great phrasing.

He was also the first traditional jazz musician to have a top 20 hit 
with 'Bad Penny Blues'.

I had the pleasure and honour of playing with him on several occasions 
in the 80s and managed to appear on a record date which he produced for 
his Calligraph label, featuring Al Casey, Wally Fawkes, Ian Christie, 
Stan Greig and Jack Fallon. The LP 'October Song' is long deleted. I had 
arrived to pick Al up and take him to a gig in Harlow.

Stan was due to play drums on some tracks and piano on others.
Wally, with whom I had recently recorded, invited me to play the 
session. Humph decided that as he was there already, he might as well 
join in the fun. So he blew some great trumpet on several tracks. What a 
joy!

On a number of other occasions we worked together and he was always 
inspiring, inventive and enthusiastic about the music.

Paul Barnes will be paying tribute to him on Gold For Grown-ups on BBC 
Eastern Counties Radio today (Saturday) 18:00 - 21:00 local UK time on 
the web and as a 'Listen Again' from Sunday for seven days.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/networks/norfolk/aod.shtml?norfolk/paul_barnes_norfolk

Coming so soon after the loss of Dick Charlesworth, April has been a 
very dark month for the traditional jazz scene in the UK



-- 
John Petters
www.traditional-jazz.com
Amateur Radio Station G3YPZ
-- 
John Petters
www.traditional-jazz.com
Amateur Radio Station G3YPZ