Comments on: Final Trumpet

By: Fay Jelliman Harger

Fay Jelliman Harger — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:16:16 +0000

I was first introduced to Humph in the early 50’s when he performed in Liverpool. I have been a jazz lover ever since. Living in the States for many years I lost touch with him. Now he is Marching with the Saints. R.I.P. Humph.

By: simon

simon — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:17:48 +0000

There’s a nice phrase in one of Philip Larkin’s jazz reviews about ‘Humph’s urbane emceeing of his own virile trumpet’ which seems to me to sum up the essence of the Lyttelton style—particularly ‘urbane’ which is exactly the word I’d use to describe his style on ISIHAC as well.

By: Seeker

Seeker — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:55:21 +0000

Bye, Humph. Really gonna miss you.

By: nick s

nick s — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:00:41 +0000

Until I saw the BBC announcing that he had died I didn’t even know Humphrey Lyttelton was a jazz trumpeter.

If you were like me, in your thirties and British, you’d likely know about his jazz programme on Radio 2, but not necessarily be familiar with his music. The YouTubes provide now.

He played at the end of the ISIHAC touring show, accompanied by the mellifluous glissandos of the swanee whistle and the earthy rasp of the kazoo.

By: Jacob Christensen

Jacob Christensen — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:58:25 +0000

@harry b: There. Fixed. I hope.

By: Chris Bertram

Chris Bertram — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 13:21:55 +0000

I’d vote for Jamie Carragher, but I suspect that I’d be in a minority of one.

By: harry b

harry b — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:55:41 +0000

The Independent’s obit is the best…well, its great, anyway. I can’t do the tags right so anyone who can, go ahead:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/humphrey-lyttelton-trumpeter-and-bandleader-who-bestrode-the-british-jazz-scene-for-more-than-half-a-century-and-later-became-the-chairman-of-lsquoirsquom-sorry-i-havenrsquot-a-cluersquo-815832.html

By: rk

rk — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:11:06 +0000

The Lyttleton Band’s work in the late 1950s was terrific: could swing like hell, often through-composed, and with great soloists at work—worth anyone’s serious attention.
http://www.humphreylyttelton.com/music
Try “Triple Exposure”.

By: Katherine

Katherine — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 07:28:46 +0000

Until I saw the BBC announcing that he had died I didn’t even know Humphrey Lyttelton was a jazz trumpeter. His voice just meant “I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue” to me. Shame on me.

By: Eric Rauchway

Eric Rauchway — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:36:53 +0000

Alan Coren’s account of being taught to dance while listening to records and having his retired drill sergeant dancing instructor require him to go upstairs to tell Humphrey Lyttelton to tone down his playing remains one of the funniest things I’ve heard.

By: Kieran Healy

Kieran Healy — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:02:53 +0000

Whoops, fixed.

By: Chunter

Chunter — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:55:12 +0000

It’s ‘Lyttelton’, not ‘Lyttleton’.

By: Warren Terra

Warren Terra — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 03:18:39 +0000

I’ve never listened to the BBC via broadcast – I haven’t even visited Britain for about twenty years – but looking around for some audio to stream a few years back I discovered the BBC’s wide selection, and came to love I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue. I feel a much greater sense of loss than I have any right to.

Some links to tributes I’ve seen, written by Lyttelton’s costars from Clue:
by Barry Cryer
by Sandi Toksvig
by Jeremy Hardy

One of the obituary reports said that memorial wreaths are being laid by members of the public at the Mornington Crescent underground station. This seems utterly appropriate.

By: Matt Weiner

Matt Weiner — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:54:05 +0000

I believe the CT position is that the title is held by Stephen Fry -- oddly enough if you search on the phrase Fry provides the top hit, but his nominee is Tim Berners-Lee.

By: dave heasman

dave heasman — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:40:04 +0000

There’s now a vacancy for “greatest living Englishman”. Who’d you think? Jamie Carragher?