CD Salute To Humphrey Lyttelton

Chris Hodgkins And His Band A Salute To Humphrey Lyttelton

The CD is available at https://chrishodgkins.bandcamp.com/ and from this site

1 Cross A Busy Street 6:15
(Humphrey Lyttelton)
2 Cecil Beaton Strides Again 3:10
(Chris Hodgkins/Alex Clarke)
3 Tribal Dance 4:29
(Harry South)
4 Fat Tuesday 3:03
(Freddy Grant)
5 Susan 3:34
(Chris Hodgkins /Frank Griffith)
6 Holy Main 4:10
(Humphrey Lyttelton)
7 In Swinger 3:26
(Humphrey Lyttelton)
8 Late Night Final 3:55
(Humphrey Lyttelton)
9 Mezz’s Tune/Mezzrow 4:55
(Humphrey Lyttelton)
10 We Fell Out Of Love 4:36
(Humphrey Lyttelton)
11 One For Buck 3:24
(Humphrey Lyttelton)
12 Wrestler’s Tricks 5:53
(Humphrey Lyttelton)
13 Bad Penny Blues 4:28
(Humphrey Lyttelton)
14 Kath Meets Humph 4:46
(Humphrey Lyttelton/Kathy Stobart)
15 Let’s Get Out 8:26
(Humphrey Lyttelton)
Running Time: 65.50

Cross A Busy Street 6:15
(Humphrey Lyttelton)

This album is dedicated to Kathryn Shackleton and Iain Sutcliffe of Watermill Jazz for their
perseverance and hard work in supporting the UK jazz scene.

The “Salute to Humphrey Lyttelton” is to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Humphrey Lyttelton’s birth and to showcase his wonderful life, times and music. As a life-long fan of Humphrey Lyttelton, I wanted to highlight how Humph led the way for the jazz revival of the late ’40s and ’50s by bringing jazz to the UK mainstream with ‘Bad Penny Blues’, the first UK jazz record to reach the Top20.

This album – and the tour that preceded it – is my dedication to Humph to thank him for his huge contribution to – and advocacy of – the UK jazz scene.

What started off as a simple idea ended up with a substantial cast of helpers and supporters to coordinate a consecutive 17 date tour of the UK along with an accompanying album.

I would like to thank:

Ina Dittke and Associates for generating the dates;

Digby Fairweather and Mark Cass of the Jazz Centre UK for giving me unfettered access to the Humphrey Lyttelton Collection held at the Centre;

Steve Voce for patiently answering my questions;

Paul Kauffman, Chair of the National Jazz Archive for providing advice on the travelling exhibition and Gina Treadwell who designed the panels;

Issie Barratt of the National Youth Jazz Collective who rode to the rescue on “Create Your Tune”, a scheme I devised to highlight how creativity abounds in schools to retirement homes – everyday life – from raw beginners to aficionados;

Arts Council England and Lottery Funding for generously financing the tour;

The 17 promoters, many of whom are volunteer promoters who worked hard to market the tour;

Joe Paice of the PizzaExpress Live kicked off the proceedings by booking the first two gigs;

Phil Rose at Birmingham Jazz and Elaine Crouch whose knowledge and advice played a large part in securing funding for the project;

Jazz London Radio who broadcast my ten-part series “Salute to Humphrey Lyttelton”;

Rupert Burley who did a splendid job on the press and PR;

Eric Gilchrist and Jane Reid who lent a hand on the leaflets and design;

Roger Wilson who road-managed the tour and gave logistical support including driving one of the tour vans ensuring a smooth transition from one hotel to the next;

Selorm Anku for driving the other tour van and being a patient roadie

Susan da Costa, Humph’s manager since 1959 who gave her blessing to create the ‘A Salute to Humphrey Lyttelton” project.

Chris Hodgkins April 2022

Chris Hodgkins And His Band

Touring Band

Recording Band

Covid took its toll and I was grateful for a number of deps who seamlessly fitted in. For Mark Bassey: Andy Derrick, Ian Bateman, Paul Taylor; For Wayne Wilkinson: Chris Spedding and Max Brittain; For Alison Rayner: Al Swainger and Amy Baldwin; For Henry Lowther: Nick Smart, Gethin Liddington and Dave Boa.

Chris Hodgkins, Henry Lowther and Noel Langley all play Eclipse trumpets and flugel horn

“It was a knockout then and no less now hearing it reprised on a studio recording……….The solos are gorgeous and not strung out over a dozen choruses – just long enough to whet your appetite for the next one. Absolutely wonderful” Lance Liddle, Bebop Spoken Here

The full review can be seen Here

“The unique and powerful legacy of Humphrey Lyttleton is fully and wonderfully celebrated on this release” Frank Griffith, Jazz Views

The full review can be seen Here

Jazzwise

“an invigorating tribute to a hero but more than that, a chance to hear present-day soloists responding valiantly to a past masters inspiration. Let’s hope there’s more of the same to come” Peter Vacher, Jazzwise, September 2022

“The salute, a thoroughgoing labour of devotion”. Nigel Jarrett, Jazz Journal, September 2022

“A must for all British Jazz Fans” The Musician Winter 2023

“This CD makes no attempt to recreate the old records but instead conjures up the sort of loosely- arranged, highly melodic and swinging jazz that all Humph’s bands played, regardless of personnel. I’m sure he would have loved this, which is really the highest praise I can give”. Jim Denham, Just Jazz, March 2024