We wish to remember our friends and artists who have recently passed away
Cambell Burnap
One of Britain's 'most stylish trombonists', Campbell caught the New Orleans jazz bug in his school days, playing washboard with like-minded pupils. Switching to trombone in the late 1950s, he emigrated to New Zealand, joining the Omega Jazz Band, with whom he was to record. After recording and gigging around Australia for four years, Campbell returned to England, playing with Terry Lightfoot's band. Four years later, he was back in Australia, and after a period in New Orleans, played in a band at a London hostess club.
Humphrey Lyttelton
We are sad to record the death of Humphrey Lyttelton whose been at the forefront of British jazz since he started his band in1948. Humphrey Lyttelton busy touring regularly until his death in April 2008 . Likewise every Monday night since 1967 he was heard on BBC Radio 2, purveying The Best of Jazz . Humphrey was also well known on Radio 4's anarchic panel game I'm Sorry, I Haven't a Clue in which he has played the role of reluctant chairman since 1972, and which won the best radio comedy show award in 1995 and again in 2002.
George Melly
In memory of George Melly, a Wit, jazz institution, writer and raconteur, George Melly was born in 1928 and died in 2007 and made his name in the trad scene of the late 40s and 50s, singing with Mick Mulligan’s band. In the 60s he switched careers and became one of the UK’s most ubiquitous critics, writers and TV personalities.
He published a great number of books, including his acclaimed three previous volumes of autobiography: Owning Up (1965), Rum, Bum and Concertina (1977) and Scouse Mouse (1984). In the early 70s he returned to music, and today he can be found singing with John Chilton’s band, and with the trumpeter Digby Fairweather. In 2004 George Melly was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC’s Jazz Awards.