Thursday 18th November – Sunday 5th December 2021
An ensemble of jazz musicians from the UK and USA embark on a tour in November 2021, in celebration of the legendary trumpeter, bandleader and BBC broadcaster Humphrey Lyttelton, on what would have been his 100th birthday anniversary year. Rising to prominence in the early 1950’s, Lyttelton’s hit single ‘Bad Penny Blues’ was the first-ever British jazz record to achieve top 20 status, and remained there for six weeks. Its success was largely due to a very catchy boogie piano riff, which was later used by Paul McCartney as the basis for the Beatles’ song ‘Lady Madonna’. Throughout his career, he blazed a trail with diverse presentations of jazz music and unique collaborations. In 2002, he performed (in front of 42,000) and recorded with Radiohead, engaging an entirely new audience with his music and providing a rare platform for fellow jazz musicians to play on a world stage.
In addition to his influential role as leader of the jazz revival, Lyttelton, affectionately known as “Humph”, was also a much loved broadcaster, hosting BBC Radio 2’s ‘Best Of Jazz’ programme for many years, as well as BBC Radio 4’s hugely successful and still running) comedy show ‘I’m Sorry, I Haven’t A Clue’ (later hosted by Jack Dee).
To pay true homage to Humph’s story and heritage, the 10-piece band that will celebrate his life and times will be led by the award-winning trumpeter Chris Hodgkins. Joining Hodgkins will be a cast of UK and USA jazz musicians, who will perform Humph’s compositions and arrangements, as well as some brand new pieces composed especially for the tour.
To do justice to Humph’s life and heritage, Chris Hodgkins, himself a stalwart of the British jazz scene, has put together an impressive ten-piece band featuring top UK and US musicians.
The band features, Chris Hodgkins – trumpet, Henry Lowther – trumpet,
Charlotte Glasson – sax, Diane McLoughlin – sax, Mark Bassey – trombone
Alison Rayner – double bass, Buster Birch – drums, Alex Clarke – sax, and all the way from the USA – Jinjoo Yoo – piano, Wayne Wilkinson – guitar
A four part series on Humphrey Lyttelton, presented by Chris Hodgkins, will be broadcast on Jazz London Radio – London and the UK’s Internet Radio Station at 8pm on Wednesdays the 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th November.
The tour will also host a scheme, with participating venues, to “Create your Tune”. The scheme is open to all ages and especially for people who have never composed a tune but would like to give it a try. Entry will be by mobile phone and the tune can be sung, whistled or played on a musical instrument. Full details arriving soon
A travelling exhibition on Humphrey Lyttelton’s life and times will also accompany the tour and will consist of a media presentation and visual archive display based on Humph’s writings and journals.
Join the band on tour for a captivating and insightful night of nostalgia and an exhilarating evening of live music.
The Salute to Humphrey Lyttelton Tour is supported by public funding from Arts Council England with help from PizzaExpressLive, National Jazz Archive, the Jazz Centre UK, Jazz London Radio and Ina Dittke and Associates.
Tour dates & venues
Thursday 18th November. Chesterfield Jazz Club 8pm Olde House, Loundsley Green Road, Chesterfield, S40 4RN https://chesterfieldjazz.wordpress.com. Box Office: 07764 587258
Friday 19th November. The Queens Hall, 44 High Street, Narberth, Pembrokeshire, SA67 7AS https://narberthjazz.wales/event/salute-to-humph/. Box Office: 01834 861212
Saturday 20th November. Newcastle Arts Centre, The Black Swan 67 Westgate Road, NE1 1SG https://www.newcastle-arts-centre.co.uk/jazz-cafe-programme/. Box Office: 0191 261 5618
Sunday 21st November. PizzaExpress Jazz Club, Soho , London, 8:00pm www.pizzaexpresslive.com. Box Office: 020 7439 4962
Monday 22nd November. Chapter Arts Centre, Market Road / Heol y Farchnad
Cardiff / Caerdydd CF5 1QE 7:30pm. Box Office: 029 2031 1050.
Tuesday 23rd November. St. James Church, Church Path, Emsworth, PO10 7DP 8:00pm https://www.wemsfest.com/. Box Office: https://www.wegottickets.com/WemsFest
Wednesday 24th November. Fougou Jazz, Livermead Cliff Hotel, Seafront, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 6RQ. 8pm https://fougoumusic.com/. Box Office: https://fougoumusic.com
Thursday 25th November. Subscription Rooms, George St, Stroud, GL5 1AE 7:45pm https://thesubrooms.co.uk/whats-on/a-salute-to-humphrey-lyttelton-219 Box Office: 01453 796880 boxoffice@thesubrooms.co.uk
Friday 26th November. Calstock Arts, The Old Chapel, Sand Lane, Calstock, PL18 9QX 8pm https://calstockarts.org/whats-on/. Box Office: 01822 833183
Saturday 27th November. PizzaExpress Live, Birmingham 8:00pm www.pizzaexpresslive.com. Box Office: 020 7439 4962
Sunday 28th November. The Plough Arts Centre,9–11 Fore Street, Great Torrington, Devon, EX38 8HQ. 7:30pm Tickets: https://www.theploughartscentre.org.uk/event/salute-humphrey-lyttelton. Box Office: 01805 624624
Tuesday 30th November. Watermill Jazz, Betchworth Park Golf Club, Reigate Road, Dorking. 8:30pm https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/watermilljazz http://www.watermilljazz.co.uk/. Box Office: Steve Wetherall: Tel: 07415 815784 email: boxoffice@watermilljazz.co.uk
Wednesday 1st December. The Concorde Club, Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 9HQ 8:15pm https://www.theconcordeclub.com/. Box Office: https://www.theconcordeclub.com/product.php/1010/salute-to-humph
Thursday 2nd December. Ashburton Arts Centre, Ashburton, 15 West St, Devon, TQ13 7DT 7:30pm http://ashburtonarts.org.uk/. Box Office: wegottickets.com/ashburtonarts.
Friday 3rd December. Jazz Jurassica, Marine Theatre, Church St, Lyme Regis, DT7 3QB. 7:30pm Tickets: www.jazzjurassica.co.uk/
Saturday 4th December. Connaught Theatre, Union Place, Worthing, BN11 1LG 7:30pm https://wtam.uk/events/a-salute-to-humphrey-lyttelton/ Box Office: 01903 206206
Sunday 5th December. The Astor Community Theatre, Stanhope Rd, Deal, CT14 6AB 7:30pm https://theastor.co.uk/. Box Office: 01304 370 220
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