Hodgkins, former Director of Jazz Services, has always enjoyed a separate career as a mainstream trumpeter. And a good one, too. Thinking to commemorate Lyttelton’s centenary, Hodgkins selected an array of Humph’s tunes, added two of his own, assembled the lineup as shown and then toured with it. He wanted, he said to "thank Humph for his contribution to, and advocacy of, the UK scene". A worthy aim, for sure.

As always, Hodgins is an ‘equal opportunity’ bandleader, happy to mix youth and experience. There's 15 pieces on the album, and yes, Humph’s solitary hit ‘Bad Penny Blues’ is here, the others from varied eras and with diverse hands holding the arranger’s pen.

There was always more to Humph the composer than he ever claimed, the choices here certainly refreshingly varied and expertly constructed, arranger Frank Griffith especially effective at making this hefty mini-big band swing. It’s packed with soloists, like Bassey, superb on ‘Kath Meets Humph,’ and Clarke impressive as both clarinettist and tenor player, McLoughlin purposeful on alto. Lowther and Glasson get ‘Late Night Final’ pretty much to themselves and Henry (on flugelhorn) handles Chris’ tribute to Susan Da Costa, Humph’s manager, with his customary poise. The final track ‘Let’s Get Out’ is a zesty piece and goes well, enlivened as it is by Glasson – ‘the Roland Kirk of the penny whistle’ – in Chris’ words. I think Humph would have approved. As he would of Yoo’s vibrant piano on ‘Penny’, still a mover after all these years. Good tenor from Clarke and nifty Lowther trumpet, too.

So, an invigorating tribute to a hero but more than that, a chance to hear present-day soloists responding valiantly to a past master’s inspiration. Let’s hope there’s more of the same to come.