In November and December the Chris Hodgkins band completed a 17 date tour with support from Arts Council England, the “Salute To Humphrey Lyttelton” a celebration of the legendary trumpeter, band leader and BBC broadcaster Humphrey Lyttelton, on what would have been his 100th birthday anniversary year.
Rising to prominence in the early 1950’s, Lyttelton’s hit single ‘Bad Penny Blues’ was the first ever British jazz record to achieve top 20 status. Throughout his career, he blazed a trail with diverse presentations of jazz music and unique collaborations. In 2002, he performed (in front of 42,000) and recorded with Radiohead, engaging an entire new audience with his music and providing a rare platform for fellow jazz musicians to play on a world stage.
In addition to his influential role as leader of the jazz revival, Lyttelton, affectionately known as “Humph”, was also a much loved broadcaster, hosting BBC Radio 2’s ‘Best Of Jazz’ programme for many years, as well as BBC Radio 4’s hugely successful and still running) comedy show ‘I’m Sorry, I Haven’t A Clue’ (later hosted by Jack Dee).
The “Salute To Humphrey Lyttelton” was recorded immediately after the tour and comprises Humph’s compositions and arrangements, as well as some brand new pieces composed for the tour. The band for the launch is: Chris Hodgkins, Henry Lowther, Nick Smart (trumpets), Alison Rayner (double bass), Buster Birch (drums), Charlotte Glasson (baritone sax/clarinet/penny whistle), Alex Clarke (tenor sax/clarinet), Diane McLoughlin (alto sax/soprano sax), Mark Bassey (trombone) With special guests Andrea Vicari on piano and guitarist Phil Robson.
With funding from Arts Council England, Chris Hodgkins toured an outstanding Anglo/American quartet in May 2019. Chris recruited South Korean pianist from New York, Jinjoo Yoo, “one of the most exciting pianists on the scene in New York”, plus guitarist Wayne Wilkinson, “one of the best, most underrated jazz guitarists in the USA”. Alison Rayner on bass and Chris on trumpet.
The music comprised a mixture of standards and four originals specially written for the tour. “Festooned with Trumpets” was recorded immediately after the tour.
Chris hails from Cardiff and it was there in Cardiff’s Tiger Bay he worked with the local legendary guitar player Vic Parker at the Quebec Hotel, Crichton Street, Cardiff. Two sessions with Vic Parker, Chris on cornet and Jed Williams on drums were recorded in January and February 1976. “Vic Parker At The Quebec Hotel + Chris Hodgkins + Jed Williams”
