Digby Fairweather
began his professional jazz career in l977, combining
playing with writing and broadcasting for Jazz FM and
the BBC (l991-98), before returning to fulltime playing
thereafter. He is founder of the National Jazz Archive,
and co-founder of the Association of British Jazz
Musicians and Jazz Section of the Musicians’ Union.
During his career Digby has recorded prolifically and
worked with all of Britain’s leading Swing players. He
has received numerous awards, including the BBC Jazz
Society’s ‘Musician of the Year’ award (l979) and
thereafter British Jazz Awards (Trumpet/l992 and
Services to Jazz/l993), the Benno Haussman Award
(Services to Jazz, l993) and the Freedoms of London and
his hometown Southend-on-Sea in their Millenium Role of
Honour (2000). His newest band ‘Digby Fairweather’s Half
Dozen’ won the Marston’s Pedigree British Jazz Award for
top small group in 2005 and 2006. |
In January 2003 he
became Musical Director for the legendary George Melly,
touring with George and ‘The Half Dozen’. In August that
year his first recorded collaboration with Melly
‘Singing and Swinging the Blues’ (Robinwood Productions)
was ‘Record of the Week’ for the ‘Observer’ and his next
(‘The Ultimate Melly’ for Candid) again included the
Half Dozen, as well as guests Jacqui Dankworth, Van
Morrison, the Swingle Singers and John Chilton and was
greeted with fine reviews.
Melly's last album, completed just before he passed away
- a collection of his favourite tunes, is
scheduled for Summer 2007 release on Lake Records.
Digby is also in demand as
a solo artist and after dinner speaker.
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