Digby Fairweather - Notes From A Jazz Life Vol. 4 (2024)

Cornetist Digby Fairweather has become one of the leading figures on the British jazz scene, both as a bandleader and sideman in other leader’s bands, and as a writer and broadcaster, as well as being the founder and director of the charity Jazz Centre UK in Southend, aimed at promoting, preserving and celebrating the culture of jazz. This 33-track-2-CD collection is the fourth volume of a retrospective of his career to date, compiled by Digby himself, and with substantial booklet notes written by him. It comprises ‘live’ and studio recordings from across his career, and features performances with a host of the top names in British jazz as members of his various ensembles featured here – Digby Fairweather & Velvet, Digby Fairweather & Friends, Digby Fairweather’s New Georgians, The Great British Jazz Band, Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen and We Three plus duo recordings with Stan Barker. Among the artists with whom Digby performs in this set are vocalists George Melly, Van Morrison, Jacqui Dankworth and Chris Ellis, plus Denny Wright, Ike Isaacs, Len Skeat, Pete Strange, Randolph Colville, Pete Skivington, Julian Marc Stringle, Bobby Worth, Dave Hackworth, Mick Foster and others. The recordings capture moments which Digby has selected as highlights from his illustrious career taken from LPs and CDs, many long out of print, from across the years. It’s the fourth part of a musical overview of a significant career providing not only a showcase for his talents, but an entertaining insight into the British jazz scene across several decades.

Tracklist:
1-1. Digby Fairweather and Velvet - It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing (06:00)
1-2. Digby Fairweather and Velvet - Body And Soul (06:55)
1-3. Digby Fairweather and Velvet - Cherokee (05:46)
1-4. Digby Fairweather and Velvet - All The Things You Are (05:32)
1-5. Digby Fairweather and Velvet - Sugar (07:05)
1-6. Digby Fairweather and Velvet - Sing (04:46)
1-7. Digby Fairweather and Velvet - I Found A New Baby (05:22)
1-8. Digby Fairweather and Fairweather Friends - New Orleans (04:49)
1-9. Digby Fairweather and Fairweather Friends - Lonesome Road (03:59)
1-10. Digby Fairweather’s New Georgians - Feelin' Like A Million (03:47)
1-11. Digby Fairweather’s New Georgians - E-Flat Blues (03:39)
1-12. Digby Fairweather’s New Georgians - Bojangles Of Harlem (02:58)
1-13. Digby Fairweather’s New Georgians - I Must See Annie Tonight (03:07)
1-14. Digby Fairweather - Gone With The Wind (08:23)
1-15. Digby Fairweather - You Turned The Tables On Me (02:59)
2-16. The Great British Jazz Band - Original Dixieland One-Step (03:27)
2-17. The Great British Jazz Band - Prelude To A Kiss (05:33)
2-18. Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen - Twelve Feet Off The Ground (03:55)
2-19. Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen - Babe (04:53)
2-20. Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen - The Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gave To Me (03:43)
2-21. Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen - My Honey's Lovin' Arms (05:15)
2-22. Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen, George Melly And Guests - Midnight Cannonball (02:29)
2-23. Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen, George Melly And Guests - Kitchen Man (04:11)
2-24. Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen, George Melly And Guests - Backwater Blues (05:55)
2-25. Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen, George Melly And Guests - Let's Call The Whole Thing Off (03:39)
2-26. Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen, George Melly And Guests - Winin' Boy Blues (04:27)
2-27. Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen, George Melly And Guests - Roll 'Em Pete (05:09)
2-28. Digby Fairweather - Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None Of My Jelly Roll (03:45)
2-29. Digby Fairweather - Sweet Honey Will Be Gone (03:07)
2-30. We Three - Chinatown My Chinatown (03:01)
2-31. We Three - All Of me (04:15)
2-32. We Three - S'Wonderful (03:17)
2-33. We Three - The Sheik Of Araby (03:55)