Digby Fairweather – Notes From A Jazz Life Volume 4 – 2CD

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.

Track Listing:

CD1:
Digby Fairweather And Velvet: 1. It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Don’t Have That Swing -   2. Body And Soul -   3. Cherokke - 4. All The Things You Are -   5. Sugar -   6. Sing:   7. I Found A New Baby -   Digby Fairweather And Fairweather Friends: 8. New Orleans -   9. Lonesome Road -   Digby Fairweather’s New Georgians: 10. Feelin' Like A Million -   11. E-Flat Blues -   12. Bojangles Of Harlem -   13. I Must See You Tonight -   Digby Fairweather/Stan Barker Duo: 14. Gone With The Wind -   15. You Turned The Tables On Me -  

CD2:
The Great British Jazz Band: 1. Original Dixieland One Step -   2. Prelude To A Kiss -    Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen: 3. Twelve Feet Off The Ground -   4. Babe -   5. The Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gave To Me -   6. My Honey’s Lovin’ arms -   Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen, George Melly And Guests (Vocal: George Melly, Sir Van Morrison): 7. Midnight Cannonball -   Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen, George Melly And Guests (Vocal: George Melly): 8. Kitchen Man -   Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen, George Melly And Guests (Vocal: George Melly, Sir Van Morrison): 9. Backwater Blues -   Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen, George Melly And Guests (Vocal: George Melly, Jacqui Dankworth): 10. Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off -   Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen, George Melly And Guests (Vocal: George Melly): 11. Winin’ Boy Blues -   12. Roll ‘em Pete -   Digby Fairweather/Chris Ellis ‘With Hot Accompaniment’: 13. Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None Of My Jelly Roll -   14. Sweet Honey Will Be Gone -   We Three: 15. Chinatown My Chinatown -   16. All Of Me -   17. S’Wonderful -   18. The Sheik Of Araby -