R.I.P. Phil Kelly - Death of a stalwart

We are devastated to have lost an absolute stalwart of Take it to the Bridge. For many years, Phil Kelly was a regular audience member who often sat on the door (with good friend Norman Redhead) as the smiling guardian of our £1 subs and raffle tickets. 

Apparently on a night out with friends, he had a fall. He went home and was found dead by neighbours next day. It’s unclear at present whether an injury from the accident proved fatal or something underlying had caused him to fall in the first place. Presumably we will hear more in the next few days. 

 

This was a man whose knowledge of and passion for jazz was second to none.  He paid almost annual visits to the jazz clubs in New York and always came back with T shirts, baseball caps, CDs, Village Voices and fascinating stories of artists who we needed to check out. If there was a jazz gig anywhere in the region, chances are you’d see Phil there. 

 

Phil’s literary awareness and fury at political idiocy was matched only by his genius for telling the worst imaginable jokes.  In the past couple of years he’d dipped his toe in the waters of singing (very ably) with the jam regulars and had even bought a trumpet – he was a keen student. He was also a highly talented artist as you can see from the portrait of Freddie Hubbard which he gave to Dave some years ago.

 

Take it to the Bridge regular Roy Stephenson remembers, “Phil was always there when I first started coming along to TITTB at the Chilly.  Always a kind word and a bad joke :-).

I remember Phil suggesting we visit a club, Swing 46, in NYC when Daphne took me there for my 70th.  A wonderful club off Times Square -  full of wonderful people and music - a recommendation I’ll always remember and in doing so always remember Phil.”

 

RIP brother. We’ll miss you very much. Jude