As a schoolboy, I had never heard Jazz , but in 1955 I was persuaded by a friend to attend a Humphrey Lyttelton concert at Sheffield City Hall. I loved it and that night was the start of a lifelong love of Jazz. That concert lead to my hearing many of the Jazz greats at live events, including Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson and far too many to name then all. Even now I attend about 30 to 40 live jazz events each year, and all because of Humph ! Over the years I saw Humph's band fairly often too, and it was always entertaining.
His "Best of Jazz" radio show was a fine cross section of many styles, and of course he was superb on "I'm sorry I haven't a Clue". For me, though, first and foremost he was a Giant of Jazz. Goodbye to Humph, you were a true legend, and Thank you so much for setting me on the way to the Jazz life.......
John Vine:
17/09/2008