NewsLETTeR Editor: David Nathan ISSUE 13 October 2005 We got him again! Well, it was only a few days ago,Thursday 8th twelve months since we’ve shared his September actually, that my mobile rang round about company there have been achievements to 6pm, to announce the arrival of one of the most spare.A new album by his high-powered and welcome telephone calls I’ve received in many a day. rejuvenated seven-piece (‘Sad Sweet Songs “Hello Digby?” said the measured friendly voice at the and Crazy Rhythms’ Calligraph CLGCD042) other end “ - Humph here!” And for the next forty featuring new members Ray Wordsworth, minutes or so – yes, that long – I enjoyed the extended John Rees-Jones and the diminutive but pleasure of chatting to British jazz’s most eminent hard-swinging tenorist Karen Sharp as well centrepiece and spokesman. Just as I will when he as the leader’s powerful trumpet and equally returns, not a day too soon, for his second visit to the irresistible vocals. Regular band concerts National Jazz Archive’s Annual Celebrity Interview on featuring much new repertoire; carefully Tuesday 8th November at 8pm. slotted amid a broadcasting schedule Phone calls are not always fun of course but talking to including his essential ‘Best of Jazz’ Radio 2 Photo courtesy of John Root Humph, for me, was as it will be on November 8th, not slot and of course ‘I’m sorry I haven’t a Clue’ which only a true pleasure but quite a rare treat. Not because continues, unflaggingly, to be the funniest thing on radio. he’s any kind of jazz recluse – in fact quite the reverse High-powered media appearances (including at the – but because British jazz’s most eminent centrepiece recent BBC Jazz Awards) where his public and spokesman is, to put it mildly, a busy man. Since our pronouncements, as ever, combined perception with Editors Note: Tickets at £12 Celebrity Interviews began nearly twenty years ago, humour. can be obtained from me at we’ve been regularly trying to persuade him to visit the Then perhaps most remarkably, a new book too. In the Archive but please check NJA to talk about his life in (and sometimes around) recent years I had wondered whether his unrelenting the music, but work schedules, including his firm radio commitments might have deflected Humph from first for availability in view of commitment to putting trumpet and band first and pen and publisher. But no; there’s to be a new one and the limited accommodation. foremost, regularly prevented a positive RSVP in critic Steve Voce, who remains one of his closest friends response. and longtime admirers promises that “having been In any event cheques should When finally his manager and right-hand woman, Susan made aware of some of the contents, I can assure you be made payable to Essex Da Costa, was able to give the OK last year we knew that the one that is about to arrive will make you laugh County Council. NATIONAL JAZZ ARCHIVE JAZZ NATIONAL that covering a career as expansive and diverse as more than anything since Bill Crow’s ‘Jazz Anecdotes’”. Humphrey Lyttelton’s might be a challenge in one That’s good to know and as an ex-librarian turned evening alone. In fact, on the night in great good trumpeter I’m basking in the feeling that with a new humour we got up to l958 but had to stop; making a Humph book on the way everything in the world, and return visit not just a pleasure but (provided it could on the shelves, is really quite alright. be slotted into his calendar) very much a necessity too. For the British jazz world, after all, Humphrey Lyttelton Even the return visit couldn’t be guaranteed until represents the pinnacle of jazz achievement.Apart recently. At a point at which I’d rung not just to from his durable and inspired talents as a trumpet- enquire about confirming a date for his return but also player (and composer too by the way) his life’s work to ask if he might be prepared to act as figurehead for has been an uninterrupted fanfare of excellence both a fundraising project for the recent New Orleans amid and on behalf of the music. As a communicator tragedy, Susan needed a few more days’ notice on both he is dignified yet devoid of pomp.Witty as well as counts.“I can’t get inside Humph’s head just now!” she funny. Generous, unfailingly encouraging and said, and proceeded to reel off a bewildering occasionally forbearing to those learning the crafts he Lytteltonian timetable of commitments involving mastered decades ago. everything from mixing a new album on his long- Ever open to the developing themes of jazz; constantly established Calligraph label to planning, then scripting a searching for, then attaining, new creative heights. clutch of shows for BBC Radio 2. Such a schedule I “Humph” said one of Britain’s other fine jazz know from personal experience can turn a person commentators Chris Ellis, years ago “– has never ever battier than Buddy Bolden. But Humph, as ever, must watched the clock”.And because clock-watching is a have kept his hands firmly on the wheel, his eye on the symptom of boredom I can only assume that the road and his foot on the accelerator before, passions that drew our guest into jazz back in his teens presumably, drawing to a halt by his phone at 6pm that beat as strongly in his heart and veins as they did then. evening. I might ask him that perhaps. But I probably won’t try N J A It’s been a busy year of course since we saw him last. and praise him face to face; at least no more than I Loughton Library, Traps Hill What else for the man whose cyclonic activities in and have to. I’ve tried a couple of times. And the Grand Loughton, Essex IG10 1HD Master’s response was typical.“Oh shucks!” he said. on behalf of our music have, to thoroughly mix up a Tel. 020 8502 0181 metaphor, been one of its great stabilising forces since Digby Fairweather Fax 020 8508 5041 and before l948 when he first formed his Band? In the Founder/National Jazz Archive e-mail: [email protected] NJA BENEFIT NIGHT AT THE website: nationaljazzarchive.co.uk 100 CLUB See back page for details SUPPORTED BY ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL, LIBRARIES Confessions of a Jazz Promoter by Roger Horton In 1957 I joined the staff of Jazzshows Limited, a at the box office. One night at about 8.30 Don stuck company which did just that, promoted Jazz Shows his head round the foot of the stairs and enquired as to around the country. Nepotism was involved, my mother, how many punters were in the Club, I told him 850. See Molly, was the Company Secretary and she put in a if you can get the 1000 he said.We did - doors closed word for me.The company was a small one,Ted at 1001. In that basement, incredible, but the hotter, Morton was the boss, and an accountant and he sweatier and more full it was, the more the fans audited the accounts for many bands and took care of seemed to love it.Today, Health and Safety would have a self employed musician's tax affairs. George Webb was heart attack. the General Manager, there was Molly, myself and for a Other Jazzshows promotions included the annual while the late Don Aldridge. "Floating Festival of Jazz".Two boats, owned by Eagle The trad boom was at its height and we promoted Steamers would depart at 9.30am on a summer Sunday most of the popular Jazz Bands in town halls up and from Tower Pier to Margate, returning to London at down the country. I remember sell out concerts at 9.30pm.The motor vessel Daffodil held 1,400 moved after a years trading to new premises in Walkers Watford, Birmingham, Leicester and many other towns. passengers and the motor vessel Sovereign 1,600.We Court, Soho. Shortly after it opened, I was put in as George, who was about 40 at the time, was a highly never failed to sell out these boats. Jazz fans came manager and stayed a couple of years, working there respected figure having kicked off the revivalist from all over the country. Clubs organised fleets of during the day and supplementing my income by helping movement in England. He was also absolutely fearless. I coaches to carry their members to Town. Around a out at the club in the evenings. Paul Raymond opened remember one evening at Lewisham Town Hall.The dozen bands were employed on each boat.The bands his famous Review Bar next door. His girls were often Chris Barber Band with Lonnie Donegan was sold out changing boats at Margate so everyone had a chance to customers in the shop looking for music for their strip and some Teddy Boys, Donegan fans, tried to gatecrash listen to every band.The bars opened on departure, routines. One girl sometimes came in with a python the concert. One of them drew a knife on George, but and to avoid queuing, people would purchase half a round her neck, a bit scary at first, but the creature was although not the tallest of men, George faced him dozen full crates of beer at a time.This was before harmless enough! down. canned beer and recycling, and I can confirm that the I left the shop and went to work with Don Aldridge for On another occasion we were together with Jack river bed is home to thousands of empty bottles as Jazzshows newly formed booking agency.