WJRK Play HUMPH

The Rhythm Kings of West Jesmond, with a little help from their friends, paid tribute to the late Humphrey Lyttleton tonight. Because of the stylistic boundaries set by the band only numbers from the great man's Neanderthal period were played which was a shame as it was during his post 1957 years that Humph truly matured; both as a bandleader and a trumpet player. Nevertheless, having said that, the Rhythm Kings gave an authentic recreation of those heady mouldy fig days even going to the extent of unfurling a banner that read 'Go Home Dirty Bopper' recalling that legendary event at Birmingham Town Hall when Bruce Turner joined the band. Mike Durham played to perfection the part of Humph the Younger, musically, and Humph the Elder, verbally, quoting at length from the numerous books written by jazz's most famous ex- Guardsman and, of course, the radio program he hosted for many years,'I'm Sorry I Haven't a clue'. The front line of Mike, Derek Fleck (alt/clt) and Brian Chester (tmb) were augmented for most of the evening by Barry Soulsby on clarinet; he brought extra sparkle to the band. The rhythm section of Keith Stephens (bjo/gtr), Bruce Rollo (bs), who replaced Phil Rutherford (sousaphone) for the second set, Pete Soulsby (dms) and Brian Chester who occasionally laid down his trombone and slid over to the grand piano - most notably in "Bad Penny Blues"- excelled. All in all a pleasant evening for one 'Dirty Bopper' (me) who didn't go home until practically the end. Click for photos.