Humphrey Lyttelton

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Humphrey Lyttelton (2006)
Humphrey Lyttelton - Tailgate
Humphrey Lyttelton - Bad Penny Blues

Humphrey Richard Adeane Lyttelton (born May 23, 1921 in Eton , Berkshire , England, † April 25, 2008 in London ) was a British jazz trumpeter (also cornet player ), band leader and author.

Life

Coming from the British aristocracy, Lyttelton began working for George Webbs Dixielanders in 1943 , with whom he recorded a total of 15 titles from December 31, 1943. In November 1948 he founded his own band, which at times consisted of the following members: Humphrey Lyttelton (clarinet or trumpet), Keith Christie (trombone), Wally Fawkes (clarinet), Ian Christie (clarinet), George Webb (piano), Buddy Vallis (Banjo), John Wright (bass), Bernard Saward or George Hopkinson (drums) and Micky Ashman. In the classic New Orleans jazz style, the first recording with the title Tailgate was made on May 4, 1948 for the Tempo label , Jenny's Ball followed on May 11, 1948. However, the first single was released as Tempo A 10, the title Jenny's Ball , followed from Tailgate (Tempo A 12). A comprehensive recording session took place on November 30, 1948 in the recording studio, which was initiated with the Irish Black Bottom . On November 13, 1949 Lyttelton played six recordings with Sidney Bechet in London. He then moved with his band to Parlophone Records in October 1950 , where he was recorded by new producer George Martin at Abbey Road Studios .

Lyttelton's greatest success that was even rewarded with a rank 19 in the British pop charts, was the Bad Penny Blues , recorded on April 20, 1956 in the studios of the IBC (International Broadcasting Corporation) and produced by the young Joe Meek , together with Denis Preston . The catchy piano riff was later picked up by the Beatles in their hit Lady Madonna.

He took part in the Newport Jazz Festival , which began on July 3, 1959, and has since given concerts on the European continent. Lyttelton started out from the New Orleans style and gradually incorporated elements of swing into his playing. He played with musicians of various styles such as Bud Freeman , Jimmy Skidmore , Cab Kaye , Kathy Stobart , Tony Coe , Chris Pyne , Karen Sharp and Danny Moss . According to the verdict of the Jazz Podium , “in contrast to many trad jazz colleagues in England, he stuck to a tasteful, swinging style of playing without compromises”.

Since the early 1950s, he also worked as an organizer of concerts at the 100 Club , which bore Lyttelton's name from 1956. Since 1967 he also worked for the BBC and presented The Best of Jazz on BBC Radio 2 and from 1972 on BBC Radio 4 as a game director of the satirical radio game show I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue .

Lyttelton has also been a successful author and worked as a cartoonist for the Daily Mail between 1949 and 1956 .

Discography (selection), date of recording

Tempo Records:

  • Canal Street Blues (Tempo; test pressing), May 4, 1948
  • Jenny's Ball (Tempo A 10), May 11, 1948
  • Tailgate (Tempo A 12), May 4, 1948

Parlophone Records:

  • Irish Black Bottom, Memphis Blues, and Maple Leaf Rag ; November 30, 1949
  • Careless Love Blues , Come On And Stomp, Stomp, Stomp; January 25, 1950
  • Straight From The Wood, January 25, 1950
  • Careless Love Blues, February 15, 1950
  • Snake Rag and Hopfrog, March 29, 1950
  • Ice Cream, April 26, 1950
  • Froggie Moore, April 26, 1950
  • Snag It, I Like To Go Back In The Evening, Chattanooga Stomp; July 19, 1950
  • Dallas Blues, Cakewalkin 'Babies Back Home, Down Home Rag; 23rd August 1950
  • March 1919, September 27, 1950
  • Trouble In Mind, October 11, 1950
  • Panama Rag, Buddy's Habits; October 25, 1950
  • Get Out Of Here And Go On Home, On Treasure Island, Wolverine Blues ; November 22, 1950
  • DJC Blues, November 22, 1950
  • Trog's Blues, Wolverine Blues; January 24, 1951
  • Panama, Gatemouth, The Dormouse, Hangover Street Rag; February 28, 1951
  • Tom Cat Blues, Mezz's Blues, Suffolk Air, Yes Suh; March 21, 1951
  • The Old Gray Mare, Waitin 'For The Robert E. Lee, Down Home Rag, Apex Blues; May 23, 1951
  • One Man Went To Blow, June 11, 1951
  • Tia Juana, It's Over Now, Chicago Buzz, Randolph Turpin Stomp; October 24, 1951
  • Fidgety Feet, I'm Crying Too, March Hare, Falling Blues; February 26, 1952
  • Friendless Blues, Original Jelly Roll Blues , Fat Tuesday, Mam'selle Josephine; April 15, 1952
  • Ain't Misbehavin ', Beale Street Blues ; October 2, 1952
  • Mam'selle Josephine, Shake It And Break It, Jail Break; January 20, 1953
  • Maryland, My Maryland, Blue For Waterloo, Young Woman Blues; April 28, 1953
  • Red For Piccadilly, Hangover Street Rag; June 3, 1953
  • Fours Company, Forty and Tight; 17th September 1953
  • Martiniquen Song, Ain't Cha Got Music, Just Once For All Time, Texas Moaner October 27, 1953
  • Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho, East Coast Trot, Breeze; December 29, 1953
  • Mainly Traditional, Oh! Dad; April 7, 1954
  • Mezz's Tune, Jelly Bean Blues; June 9, 1954
  • Ace In The Hole, Coffee Grinder; 2nd December 1954
  • The Fish Seller, The Glory Of Love; March 24, 1955
  • PTQRag, Heat Wave; 4th August 1955
  • Slippery Horn, Handful Of Keys; October 20, 1955
  • She's Cryin 'For Me, The Lady In Red, December 13, 1955
  • Pagin 'Mr.Fagin, Skeleton In The Cupboard; January 24, 1956
  • Close Your Eyes, March 29, 1956
  • Waiting For Picard, Sugar Rose, Bad Penny Blues; April 20, 1956
  • Love, Love, Love, Echoing The Blues; July 30, 1956
  • Looking For Turner, Doin 'The Rounds; 3rd August 1956
  • Christopher Columbus, That's My Home, Swing Out; August 27, 1956
  • A Jazz Concert With Humphrey Lyttelton And His Band

Books

  • Humphrey Lyttelton: It Just Occurred to Me…: An Autobiographical Scrapbook ( Robson Books Ltd: London, September 2006) (224 pp., ISBN 1-86105-901-9 )
  • Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, Barry Cryer, Humphrey Lyttelton: The Little Book of Mornington Crescent ( Orion : 2000) (112 pp., ISBN 0-7528-1864-3 )
  • Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, Humphrey Lyttelton, Barry Cryer, Willie Rushton: I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue: the Official Limerick Collection (Orion: 1998) (128 pp., ISBN 0-7528-1775-2 )
  • Humphrey Lyttelton: The Best of Jazz (Robson Books: London, 1998) (423 pp., ISBN 1-86105-187-5 )
  • Humphrey Lyttelton: The Best of Jazz: Vol 2 - Enter the Giants (Robson Books: London, 1998) (220 pp., ISBN 1-86105-188-3 )
  • Julian Purser Humph: A discography of Humphrey Lyttelton 1945–1983 ( Collectors Items : 1985) (49 pp., ISBN 0-946783-01-2 )
  • Humphrey Lyttelton: Why No Beethoven ?: Diary of a Vagrant Musician (Robson Books: 1984) (176 pp., ISBN 0-86051-262-2 )
  • Humphrey Lyttelton: Jazz and Big Band Quiz ( Batsford : 1979) (96 S, ISBN 0-7134-2011-1 )
  • Humphrey Lyttelton: The Best of Jazz 1: Basin Street to Harlem: Jazz Masters and Master Pieces, 1917–1930 ( Taplinger Publishing Co: London, 1978) (220 pp., ISBN 1-86105-188-3 )
  • Humphrey Lyttelton: Best of Jazz (Robson Books: 1978) (224 pp., ISBN 0-903895-91-9 )
  • Humphrey Lyttelton: I play as I please: The memoirs of an Old Etonian trumpeter ( MacGibbon and Kee : 1954) (200 pp.)
  • Humphrey Lyttelton: Second chorus (MacGibbon and Kee: 1958) (198 pp.)
  • Humphrey Lyttelton: Take it from the Top: An Autobiographical Scrapbook (Robson Books: 1975) (168 pp., ISBN 0-903895-56-0 )

proof

  1. ^ Obituary in The Times
  2. ↑ Jazz Podium 6/2008, p. 43

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Lyttelton, Humphrey
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Lyttelton, Humphrey Richard Adeane
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British jazz trumpeter, bandleader and author
DATE OF BIRTH May 23, 1921
PLACE OF BIRTH Eton (Berkshire)
DATE OF DEATH April 25, 2008
Place of death London