The label was founded in
1983. It was not the first time that Humph had started his own label. In 1948/49,
after making a few initial recordings with Tempo, a small independent label, he
felt the urge to be independent himself and launched London Jazz. The result
was five 78rpm records during the period, each one a (very) limited edition for
distribution to fans of the band. Though the ten titles recorded (see Humphrey
Lyttelton’s discography) made barely perceptible ripples on the surface of the
global music industry, they did draw the attention of Parlophone Records to the
band. Humph and his then manager Lyn Dutton were summoned to the office of
Oscar Preuss, who was in charge of artists’ bookings. A deal was struck that
led to an association with Parlophone that lasted for over a decade. Since
Oscar Preuss’s style as ‘producer’ was to waft into the studio twice a day, ask
‘ Is everything all right ?’ and waft out again, Humph’s appetite for
independence was assuaged and early collaborations with West Indian and
Australian musicians are to be found in his discography.
So how come another dash for independence and the founding of Humph’s
Calligraph label fifty-odd years later? The reasons were much the same as
before. The first record for Parlophone sold 4,000 copies in the first month
and prompted Oscar Preuss to scrawl over our first statement ‘Who would have
thought this ?’. Today, a return like that would be contemptuously ‘held over
until the next statement’ – and the next, and the next … The recording industry
has become a monster, prompting many artists to break away from producers, a
& r persons and other high-pressure intermediaries and embrace the
principle that ‘small’ is best. So, for the first vinyl album on Calligraph
that came out in 1984, (It Seems Like Yesterday, Calligraph CLG 1), Humph
chose the studio, the photographer and the printers himself and brought in a
guest Wally Fawkes, his old friend and colleague from the early band. The
choice was a symbolic as well as a musically happy one. It links the relative
amateurishness of independent record production in the old days to the
professionalism of today. For it was Wally who, in the private studio in which
we made our DIY London Jazz recordings, lobbed a still smouldering cigarette-end
into a bin of highly inflammable waste-product and brought the session to end
in a cloud of impenetrable smoke.
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It was intended that Cornucopia 2 would be Disc 2 of a double-CD album. Then it occurred to us that it would be more flexible for buyers to have the two CDs as separate albums, issued within a few months of each ...
Released 18/10/2007 - Available on CD and to download
Throughout its phenomenally long existence (60th anniversary next year), Humph's band has been changing, not only in style and personnel but in size. It's now eight-strong, the biggest since the late Fifties, ...
Released 06/11/2006 - Available on CD
Trumpeter Humphrey Lyttelton started his band over fifty years ago and since 1948 it has been in the forefront of British Jazz. 'Triple Exposure' brings together four classic LPs on one double CD: "Triple ...
Released 10/10/2005 - Available on CD
Recorded in November 2004, features saxophonists Jimmy Hastings and Karen Sharp and trombonist Ray Wordsworth. ...
Released 01/11/2004 - Available on CD
Recorded In September 2002 - Not available in CD. Will be available for download soon. ...
Released 02/09/2002 - Available to download
Albums
Trouble in Mind - with Elkie Brooks
Recorded at: Woody Bay Studios, North Devon Sound Engineer: Trevor Jordan Elkie Brooks : Vocals Humphrey Lyttelton : Trumpet & Bongos Kathy Stobart : Tenor & Baritone Saxophone Jimmy Hastings : Alto Sax, ...
Released 01/03/2002 - Available on CD
Albums
Humph At The Conway/Jazz At The Royal Festival Hall
The much requested classic LP's from the mid 50's, for so long regarded as some of the Band's finest live work. Will be available as a download only shortly. ...
Released 10/10/2001 - Available to download
A studio album with a 'Jam session feel' from Humph and the Band,featuring special guests; vocalist Stacey Kent and saxophonist Jim Tomlinson who regularly join the Band on-stage for numerous live performances. ...
Released 10/10/2000 - Available to download
Albums
Sing Swing together ... Again!
Helen Shapiro, Humphrey Lyttelton, Kathy Stobart, Jimmy Hastings, Pete Strange, Ted Beament, Paul Bridge and Adrian Macintosh. ...
Released 10/10/1998 - Available to download
Humphrey Lyttelton (trumpet, tenor horn), Jimmy Hastings (alto, flute), Kathy Stobart (tenor sax, baritone sax), Pete Strange (trombone), Ted Beament (piano), Paul Bridge (bass), Adrian Macintosh (drums). With ...
Released 10/10/1996 - Available on CD and to download
Albums
THREE IN THE MORNING with Acker Bilk
With John Barnes, Dave Green, Dave Cliff and Bobby Worth. Will be available as a download only shortly ...
Released 11/10/1994 - Available to download
The Band features Jimmy Hastings, Kathy Stobart, Pete Strange, Stan Greig, Paul Bridge and Adrian Macintosh. ...
Released 11/10/1993 - Available on CD and to download
Albums
At Sundown (with Acker Bilk)
This release has been unavailble on CD for some time and is now a collectors item. Soon to be made avaible for download. ...
Released 14/10/1992 - Available to download
Another album that has been out of print for a while that will soon be available for download. The first album since Kathy Stobart re-joined the Band in April 1991. This contains the familiar and successful ...
Released 14/10/1991 - Available to download
The first from the Humph Band featuring the sensational new recruit, saxist Alan Barnes. ...
Released 14/10/1989 - Available to download
Albums
It Seems Like Yesterday
Humph’s partner in his first great band of 1948-56, clarinettist Wally Fawkes, joins the 1983 Lyttelton Band in a great reunion that blends nostalgia with originality. ...
Released 18/10/1983 - Available on CD and to download