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| (Photo supplied by Alan Rudd) |
Derek Humble (1930 -1971). Born in Wheatley Hill (the biographies all say Livingston, Co. Durham - is there such a place in Durham? Maybe they mean Easington!) Derek Humble is universally regarded as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, lead alto the UK has known. That he could also solo magnificently is well proven on a recent, historical release by the Kurt Edelhagen Orchestra.
One of his earliest gigs after leaving the north east was, in fact, with Kathy Stobart's band and, like Kathy, he also played in the Vic Lewis Orchestra. A stint with Jack Parnell was followed by a spell with the groundbreaking Ronnie Scott nine piece (see photo). Derek went on to play with the aforementioned Kurt Edelhagen and the legendary Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band. His death at a relatively young age (the result of a mugging in Cologne a couple of years earlier) is one jazz's many tragedies.
Lance
1 comment :
To Ann Alex: Re your recent comment, in the above photo Tony Crombie is pictured at the back between Pete King and Derek Humble. As you will see, he bears no resemblance to Keith Crombie.
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