Mrs Zilster and I got to see ISIHAC in 2006 in Brighton. Introduced by the producer (or Barry Cryer - memory escapes me) with the words "He's still alive!", we were amazed at Humph's sprightliness and off-the-cuff wit. Not to mention that the recording went on for well over 2 hours! Super bloke, and very worthy of his National Treasure status, he shall be missed by a wide generation.

Z

PS
Mr Hepworth, do you never sleep?

A wonderful man, whose wit, charm and good grace I will remember for a long time.

Sad news indeed, somehow, Monday nights on Radio2 without him, just won't be the same. Apparently, hearing the best jazz, used to make Humphrey cry. A jazzman at heart and a friend to many on the radio.

I spoke to Humph not that long ago when he came round our way with his band and asked him lots of inane questions which I'm sure he'd heard a thousand times but he answered them all with good grace. I asked him if he ever felt like slowing down and he replied that he didn't even know how to spell the word retirement. Then on a slightly more serious note, as a I guess he had contemplated it, he said that when he finally went he wanted to have his trumpet in his hand.

Listening to the Best of Jazz was a real pleasure and a true education. ISIHAC still manages to be eyebrow-raising listening and totally hilarious after decades on the air, and depended to a great extent on Lyttelton's bone dry delivery that never dated.

Supporting Radiohead at their Oxford homecoming show in 2000 (he had played on their Amnesiac album, I believe) and on a bill including Beck, Supergrass and Sigur Ros, he got the best reception of the day.

Very sad to hear of his passing.

One of the most naturally funny men on radio. And a role model for all of us for our later years. ISIHAC taught me there was some great comedy on R4.

I like the Louis Armstrong quote, referring to Lyttleton as "that cat in England who swings his ass off".

The most funny man on R4. I remember hearing a show about ISIHAC when he recounted how someone was giving him a hard time about being so horrid to his delightful assistant (Samantha?, gone blank). He got away with the most filthy jokes at 6.30pm. My favourite ended with Lionel Blair 'finishing off two men from Verona with his mouth'. An understated and perfect presenter

Only really knew him through ISIHAC.He was an incredibly funny man,sharp as tack.
Agree with every word Patrick Crowther said earlier.
Will be Greatly missed,

Saw him at The Lowry during the ISIHAC live tour. They introduced him with the line "Ladies and gentlemen, he's still not dead..."

Worse, that was the show they chose to film, so it's going to look in awfully poor taste if the DVD ever does see the light of day!

Hope the lovely Samantha is looking after him wherever he is.

when I heard the announcement on the radio on Friday night. I can't remember having done that for any other person that I don't know personally since John Peel. I wouldn't say that I felt I "knew" either but both were such a part of the fabric of my life that the loss was very real. RIP Humph.

Obligatory nerd fact: 'Bad Penny Blues' was Joe Meek's first truly distinctive production.

Here is an episode of ISIHAC that's been posted as a tribute at Speechification.

Used to listen to Humph's Best of Jazz on Monday nights with my Dad, back in the 70's while doing my homework. Took away all fear of jazz, and opened my ears, ready for Weather Report and even Captain Beefheart (bought for me by my Dad who had heard from a friend that it was "interesting"). I inherited a large collection of "Best of Jazz" cassettes recorded from the radio when my dad died so all I need to do is stick on a tape and suddenly it's all Humph's Teasers, Bessie Smith, my Dad exclaiming at another great solo, angular momentum & oxbow lakes again, and all's well with the world.

(By the way - more jazz in Word please)