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Derek Skepper RIP 03/07/35 - 26/02/22
22/02/22 - This morning I received the sad news that Derek Skepper had passed away during the night. Although not unexpected, it was still a shock to realise that the friend whose trumpet over more than sixty years had been the vehicle for such delightful music was no more. Derek was one of those instinctive players, with little knowledge of the technicalities of chord structure or musical theory, who nonetheless are able to produce beautiful music. His playing was tasteful and lyrical and never showy or flamboyant. He wasn't an over-forceful leader of the band, preferring not to dominate, and his solos, particularly on slow and medium-tempo numbers, often had a beauty and delicacy of phrasing and a gentle poignancy which was exquisite, a fact which many who have played with him have remarked on. "Very tasty!", was the comment of a well-known fellow-trumpeter who'd never heard him before. He also had a twinkle-eyed vocal style which could be very amusing. I first played with Derek in the mid-fifties when we formed a band which gigged around St Helens, The Salamander Jazz Band. In more recent years, we played together in Razzamajazz, Doctor Jazz and The Jazz Gentlemen, as well as being regulars at the jam sessions at The Star at Rainford. Derek also played until recently in the Savoy Jazz Band and the Five and a Penny Sunday band at Alexander's in Chester. I am grateful to him, not only for his friendship over many years, but for the many times my heart has given a little leap at some especially beautiful phrase that he's conjured up from his trumpet. Thankfully we have plenty of recordings to recapture those moments.
Keith Allcock. 27/02/22 -
So very sad to
hear this, Derek was a lovely guy. Keith's eulogy
is spot on & I couldn't possibly add anything to it, 27/02/22 - I just picked up your message about the very sad death of a good friend with whom I played many times with the Savoy Jazzmen and with Keith Allcock at St. Helens Bowling Club. He was a lovely chap and creative jazz player. I’m sure the chaps in the Merseys will be equally as sad as my wife Pat and I. - Peter Fryer 27/02/22 - Very sad news about the passing of Derek. He was a real gentleman, and a super trumpet player. I used to love Sunday evenings at the Star in Rainford, when Derek was always on top form. My condolences to his family. Rest in peace. Andy Henderson 27/02/22 - Sad news about Derek, my condolences to his family. Derek was a nice, unassuming chap with a great lyrical style of playing, reminiscent of Bix. His passing will be a great loss to many bands and audiences alike. Jon Critchley 28/02/22 - Such sad news. Derek joined the Savoy Jazzmen in 2015 although he had been depping for us for many years. He played with us every week at our residency in the Widnes Rugby Union football Club. We will miss his inventive playing. He was extremely talented. We will also miss his sense of humour. Our condolences to Barbara and his family. Peter Swensson 28/02/22 - I’m saddened to hear of Derek’s Passing. I played with Derek and Keith in Razamajazz many years ago. I cannot augment Keith’s excellent description of his playing other than to add that he was good company and I’ve never heard a better rendition of ‘Dapper Dan’ than Derek’s. Roy Gregory (Parade Jazzband) 28/02/22 -
So sorry to hear
of Derek’s passing. He was a ‘Gentleman of Jazz’, a
quiet and un-assuming trumpeter & vocalist (frequently
amusing) who gave us many hours of enjoyable jazz,
particularly of late with the Savoy Jazzmen. 28/02/22 - I’m very sorry to learn of the death of Derek Skepper. In the second half of the nineteen seventies we played together regularly with the (Chester) Phoenix Jazzmen. He was an excellent musician, and Keith’s use of the word “lyrical” describes his trumpet playing to a tee. He and the late John Clack had a fund of amusing stories and ditties, bawdy limericks being a speciality, many of which I can still remember while more prosaic (and possibly useful) information has long departed my creaking memory. Occasionally our paths later crossed, and I heard him a few times with the Jazz Gentlemen at St. Helens, playing as well as ever. Condolences to his close friends and family. Harmoniously, - John Muskett 04/03/22 - Very sad to hear about the death of Derek Skepper who was indeed all the good things that previous contributors have said of him. Thanks to John Muskett for reminding me of the good times we had at The Westminster Hotel in Chester when he and Derek played with the Phoenix Jazzmen. The amusing stories and limericks with which Derek and Jack Clack entertained us are fading from memory, although I do remember "A vice both obscene and unsavoury ....". I suspect that most are unpublishable but John could always remind me via an email if he'd be so kind. (hillsconnect@yahoo.co.uk).
My condolences
to Derek's family.
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