I have to record my sadness at the passing of a great artist. Humph has been with me for most of my life: from teen years in the early 1950s when I was disk jockey at our youth centre and his Fish Seller and The Martinique were particular favourites. I used to whistle a separate clarinet obligato to his records long before I could actually play the instrument.
His mates were also formative influences in my own playing: Wally Fawkes - Trog, the creator of the cartoon, Flook, Bruce Turner - still one of the UK’s most creative alto sax players and, of course, one of his own influences with whom he later had a brief but productive partnership: Buck Clayton.
And an enormous saving feature of Humph’s bands which gave much needed relief from pain (like ceasing to rub your knees against a brick wall) - he didn’t use a banjo!!!!!
Humph has given nothing but pleasure. From his playing; from his bandleading; from his composing; from his arranging; from his writing; and from his humour, especially in I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue. Coming from north Wales myself I have special sympathy with Mrs Trellis.
His mates were also formative influences in my own playing: Wally Fawkes - Trog, the creator of the cartoon, Flook, Bruce Turner - still one of the UK’s most creative alto sax players and, of course, one of his own influences with whom he later had a brief but productive partnership: Buck Clayton.
And an enormous saving feature of Humph’s bands which gave much needed relief from pain (like ceasing to rub your knees against a brick wall) - he didn’t use a banjo!!!!!
Humph has given nothing but pleasure. From his playing; from his bandleading; from his composing; from his arranging; from his writing; and from his humour, especially in I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue. Coming from north Wales myself I have special sympathy with Mrs Trellis.
Comments