It is going to be one extraordinary evening.

Look at the line-up of guests : Courtney Pine – Elkie Brooks – Charlie Watts – Jools Holland – Ben Waters – Stacey Kent – Graeme Garden – Jack Dee – Tim Brooke-Taylor – Rob Brydon – Barry Cryer – Andy Hamilton – Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen – Jeremy Hardy – Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band – Tony Hawks – Tina May – Louise Parker – Sue Richardson – Colin Sell – Sandi Toksvig – Jim Tomlinson – Annie Whitehead


Plus members of Humphrey Lyttelton’s band: Adrian Macintosh – Ray Wordsworth – Robert Fowler – Ted Beament – Tony Fisher – Tony Coe – Jimmy Hastings – Wally Fawkes – John Picard – Dave Green – John Barnes – Karen Sharp – Eddie Taylor Eddie Harvey – John
Rees-Jones

This concert wasn’t in fact planned to land on the precise date of the second anniversary of Humphrey Lyttelton’s death, but maybe some things are just meant to happen.

Humph’s son Stephen, who has instigated the event, talked to me about the thinking, the planning which has gone into it. He told me that in the aftermath of Humph’s death he had realised quite how much his memory meant to so many people. But Stephen hadn’t wanted to launch straight into organizing a big event like this. Better to wait until the time felt right.

Stephen Lyttelton was also determined that this celebration should not only “mean something,” but also would produce a legacy of lasting benefit which was true to his father’s values. And there was probably nothing which meant more to Humph than assisting the development of young jazz musicians.

So, the concert at the end of April will be the launch of the Humph Trust which will fund an annual Humphrey Lyttelton Royal Academy of Music Jazz Award. The first winner will be unveiled, and will also play, at the concert.

Gerard Presencer, quoted in the Press Release, says: “At the age of 15, I met Humph for the first time on a concert and his enthusiasm and encouragement had a profound effect on me, inspiring me to practise and also to feel part of a tradition and lineage. I was also even more pleased, when meeting Humph over subsequent years, that he always asked me how I was getting on and showed genuine interest! It is therefore a great pleasure to see this award set up in Humphrey Lyttelton’s name at the Academy, to help create support and guidance into jazz for future generations of players.”

Tickets are available from the HMV Apollo

A website with more detail about the event, and about the Trust is H E R E