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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.
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