Product Description

A feast for all his many fans and admirers, this is the great Humphrey Lyttelton s last book, a sparkling autobiographical kaleidoscope of memories, anecdotes, and entertaining stories from his colourful life, from his childhood as the son of a famous Eton Housemaster, through to his role as the irrepressible chairman of I m Sorry I Haven t a Clue. Very much a Renaissance man - musician, writer, cartoonist, calligrapher and broadcaster - Humph was descended from a long line of land-owning, political, literary, clerical, scholastic and literary forebears. One of his more notorious relatives was executed for his part in the Gun Powder Plot! Last Chorus draws on some of Humph s long-lost autobiographical writings, as well a wealth of other material, including his never-before-seen private diaries, plus cartoons and photos from the family album. Whether sneaking off when a child to buy his first trumpet, or wading ashore in Italy during World War II with a rifle in one hand and a trumpet in the other, or playing alongside such jazz greats as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, Humph was very much his own man, and he comes vividly to life in this engaging and witty self-portrait.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #90553 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

About the Author
A national treasure, Humphrey Lyttelton is very much a Renaissance man. Son of a famous Eton housemaster, he is descended from a long line of land-owning, political, military, clerical, scholastic and literary forebears. He served in the Grenadier Guards in the Second World War, and founded his first Jazz band in 1948. He and his band remain as in-demand as ever. Every Monday night since 1967, Humph has written and presented BBC's The Best of Jazz and he is, famously, Chairman of the anarchie, award-winning radio programme. I'm Sorry, I Haven't a Clue. He has written nine books and composed over two hundred tunes, and has Honorary Doctorates at the universities of Warwick, Loughborough, Durham, Keele, Hertford and de Montfort.

Customer Reviews

Last chorus by Humph
This is a really entertaining autobiography from an entertaining character.
It really is a must for all Jazz fans and fans of his radio broadcasts. It is written with a tongue in cheek attitude to his upbringing and a great sense of humour.
The book is great value for money and a fitting tribute to a great jazz musician and raconteur.

Humph's last chorus
Highly recommended to all Lyttelton fans, whether the jazz or ISIHAC variety. A great souvenir of a great man. Get it!!

Mike Durham.

Humph....a jazz musician of many parts.
The original two volumes of Humph's memoirs: "I Play as I Please" and "Second Chorus" have long resided on my bookshelves. Most of the former and parts of the latter are reproduced in "Last Chorus" with a great deal of filling in and updating added.( Both have long been out of print). Also included is Humph's previously published: "Why No Beethoven?",concerning band tours of Poland and the Middle East.
The newly published diaries covering 1974 to 1980 will be of great interest to lovers of British jazz over the years and the whole book with its photographs and assorted illustrations, many of them Humph's own ,portrays a generous, kindly figure, latterly a sort of patriarch of British jazz.He exercised his many talents and dug deep into what interested him to the lasting benefit of his wide ranging audiences and professional colleagues alike.Most of all though, he was an outstanding musician....just listen to his records.
A very valuable addition to our jazz literature.