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jazzy_daveDigby Fairweather "Notes From A Jazz Life" (Northway)
From a librarian in Southend to a successful and award winning band leader, Digby Fairweather has led an interesting and at times quite remarkable jazz life.
Only deciding to turn professional at the age of thirty, he worked hard to gain recognition in the highly competitive and often uncertain world of professional jazz.
As Digby learnt his craft, he soaked up inspiration from the likes of Louis Armstrong and Nat Gonella and soon found himself playing alongside Ray Crane, John Picard, Jimmy Skidmore, Bruce Turner and Eric Silk.
Developing through his own 'Half Dozen', 'Jazz Legend' and 'Ron Russell's Band', he worked with many great names in Jazz and soon gained both experience and reputation.
But 'Notes From A Jazz Life' records the story of a man who at times was uneasy with himself and never quite believed in his own potential. Even his remarkable composition 'Songs for Sandy' he referred to as a 'modest suite'.
As he worked with the 'Midnite Follies Orchestra' and 'Fairweather Friends' he seemed to be continuing his search for his true identity and direction. But what is clear from the book is that Digby Fairweather is much more than a jazz musician. His broad and enthusiastic passion for the cause grew into writing, broadcasting and the very important development of the 'Association of Jazz Musicians' and the 'National Jazz Archive'.
His 'Tribute to Nat Tour' and his Jazz College work with Stan Barker provided new interests and opportunities and overcoming lip damage and problems with his embouchure, he began to occupy an increasingly important place in British Jazz.
Touring with 'The Great British Jazz Band' and continuing to write and broadcast, he then began to create and perform his own style of jazz with his carefully selected 'Half Dozen'.
The book ends before his association with George Melly but it is hard not to be impressed by the very valuable influence Digby Fairweather has had on British Jazz performance in recent years. But perhaps his most enduring contribution will be the work he has undertaken to ensure that British Jazz has a permanent archive to record its important place in the cultural development of Britain.
'Notes From A Jazz Life' is the truly inspirational story of a man with a passion, who clearly still has many more ambitions and a great deal more to achieve.
Well worth a read!
From a librarian in Southend to a successful and award winning band leader, Digby Fairweather has led an interesting and at times quite remarkable jazz life.
Only deciding to turn professional at the age of thirty, he worked hard to gain recognition in the highly competitive and often uncertain world of professional jazz.
As Digby learnt his craft, he soaked up inspiration from the likes of Louis Armstrong and Nat Gonella and soon found himself playing alongside Ray Crane, John Picard, Jimmy Skidmore, Bruce Turner and Eric Silk.
Developing through his own 'Half Dozen', 'Jazz Legend' and 'Ron Russell's Band', he worked with many great names in Jazz and soon gained both experience and reputation.
But 'Notes From A Jazz Life' records the story of a man who at times was uneasy with himself and never quite believed in his own potential. Even his remarkable composition 'Songs for Sandy' he referred to as a 'modest suite'.
As he worked with the 'Midnite Follies Orchestra' and 'Fairweather Friends' he seemed to be continuing his search for his true identity and direction. But what is clear from the book is that Digby Fairweather is much more than a jazz musician. His broad and enthusiastic passion for the cause grew into writing, broadcasting and the very important development of the 'Association of Jazz Musicians' and the 'National Jazz Archive'.
His 'Tribute to Nat Tour' and his Jazz College work with Stan Barker provided new interests and opportunities and overcoming lip damage and problems with his embouchure, he began to occupy an increasingly important place in British Jazz.
Touring with 'The Great British Jazz Band' and continuing to write and broadcast, he then began to create and perform his own style of jazz with his carefully selected 'Half Dozen'.
The book ends before his association with George Melly but it is hard not to be impressed by the very valuable influence Digby Fairweather has had on British Jazz performance in recent years. But perhaps his most enduring contribution will be the work he has undertaken to ensure that British Jazz has a permanent archive to record its important place in the cultural development of Britain.
'Notes From A Jazz Life' is the truly inspirational story of a man with a passion, who clearly still has many more ambitions and a great deal more to achieve.
Well worth a read!
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