Rent Party: Harking Back With Hump

When Humphrey Lyttelton introduced a saxophone into his band in 1954 it produced howls of protest from the Traditional Jazz fraternity. It marked Humph's move away from the early forms of Jazz into Mainstream. Many fans never forgave him, but in many ways in his long career as a bandleader and as a broadcaster Humph never completely deserted his roots. This CD which was recorded in 1991 sees him returned to a Trad style with a pick-up band. He is joined by the first clarinetist from his early band, Wally Fawkes (the cartoonist 'Trog') and another former band member, Stan Greig. The other musicians are culled from the more recent Jazz scene and represent some of its best players. The programme consists of a few Jazz standards, a few Jazz rarities and a smattering of Humph's own compositions. The Cd demonstrates admirably that Humph had lost none of his flair for the free-wheeling, foot-stomping Jazz of his early days.