Digby Fairweather

Richard John Charles "Digby" Fairweather (born 25 April 1946) is a British jazz cornetist, author and broadcaster.

Before becoming a professional musician, Fairweather was a librarian and has retained an interest in jazz bibliography and archiving.

He led his first band, Dig's Half Dozen, in 1971 and recorded in 1973 with Alex Welsh.

Four years later, he was a member of the band Velvet, with Ike Isaacs, Len Skeat, and Denny Wright, then a member of the Midnite Follies Orchestra and the Pizza Express All-Stars.

In the early 1980s, he started a band that performed music by Nat Gonella.

He worked as a sideman for George Chisholm, Alex Welsh, Tiny Winters, and Brian Priestley.

In the 1980s and 1990s, he led the Jazz Superkings, the Great British Jazz Band, and the Half Dozen.

From 1985 to 1988, he worked and recorded with Brian Priestley's Special Septet and Tony Milliner's Mingus Music, and wrote the book How to Play Trumpet.

He wrote Jazz: The Essential Companion (1987) with Brian Priestley and Ian Carr.

During the 1990s, he was part of the Salute to Satchmo.

Fairweather and Stan Barker started the Jazz College charity to introduce improvisation in schools.

He established the Association of British Jazz Musicians, The Jazz Centre UK and the National Jazz Archive.

By 1990 he had embarked on a dual vocation as broadcaster for BFBS, BBC World Service, Jazz FM (1991–92) and BBC Radios 2 and 3 (1992–98), including occasionally deputising for Humphrey Lyttelton on his show Best of Jazz and successively presenting Jazz Parade and Jazz Notes.

In 2000 it was renamed The Rough Guide to Jazz.

Fairweather's musical style has been influenced by Louis Armstrong, Ruby Braff, Billy Butterfield, Bobby Hackett, Red Nichols, and Gonella.

Digby's Half Dozen toured and recorded with singer George Melly in the later years of his career (2003–2007).

Fairweather's band toured with singer Paul Jones in their presentation Rocking in Rhythm in 2007.

Apart from his playing and group leading, Fairweather has long pursued a parallel career as a jazz broadcaster and writer.

In 2016, Fairweather founded The Jazz Centre UK, a registered charity (no. 1167421) whose aim is to promote, preserve and celebrate the culture of jazz in all its forms.