Comments for Digby Fairweather

Comment on WHAT’S NEW? by jerry westall

jerry westall — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:34:29 +0000

Thanks. Any idea what happened to thhat TV programme for Humph?

Comment on WHAT’S NEW? by Digby

Digby — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:17:27 +0000

Yes it is, Jerry, under the directorship of Richard Wheatley the former boss of Jazz FM. Coverage will be the same as for that station. Policy? - avowedly ‘all-jazz’ with some presenter-led programmes. We’ll just have to ‘wait and see’………..!!

Comment on Thursday 19 June 2008 by rasharoni

rasharoni — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:45:05 +0000

Thanks for the post

Comment on Welcome to my brand-new website 2008! by Michael Steinman

Michael Steinman — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 23:32:04 +0000

Dear Digby,

I’ve admired your playing for a long time and have just stumbled upon your blog, which is equally energetic and heartfelt. Long may you keep up both activities! Since the world of blogging is unabahedly self-promoting, may I nudge you towards my blog (jazzlives.wordpress.com) where I, too, lamented the death of Humph, have praised Jon-Erik Kellso, Sidney Catlett, Whitney Balliett, and other heroes living and dead. Although they never really die, do they? Cheers! Michael Steinman

Comment on WHAT’S NEW? by jerry westall

jerry westall — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:03:56 +0000

Digby
Have you heard Jazzfm is coming back in the autumn for London & North west digital? Are you involved.
Jerry Westall

Comment on HUMPH by jerry westall

jerry westall — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 08:09:15 +0000

Digby
So sorry to hear about Campbell Burnap. There is an obituary by Steve Voce from the Independent on the internet. He missed out Campbell playing in your band. I liked the Pat Halcox All Stars with Campbell but I once wrote to Campbell that the singing on their disc was Dire - he thought I was talking about the whole thing but I wasn’t. Introduced him to The Anachronic Jazz Band who came my way via John Jack and Mike Westbrook - a true marriage of traditional and modern jazz.
Campbell was at his best, for me, as a radio dj. How much better than those paid exorbitant sums to babble. Campbell really knew his stuff and loved it.

Comment on HUMPH by Bernadette

Bernadette — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:16:49 +0000

Hi Digby
I have just received the sad news that Campbell Burnap passed away. I went online and, in looking for info about Campbell, I came across your site.
I met Campbell in 1983 when he was playing with Acker Bilk and living in Dulwich. What a beautiful man. I was only in UK for a few months but brought back to Australia so many wonderful memories of Campbell. He was living in the basement apartment and we were staying with the incredible Frances up above.
I cry for Campbell and for the loved ones he left behind. R.I.P. Campbell - you certainly were Mr Charm
Bernadette from Mount Eliza, Victoria, Australia

Comment on HUMPH by jerry westall

jerry westall — Sat, 31 May 2008 07:38:59 +0000

Thanks for your comment. I’ve retired now - I know jazz musicians never retire! - so can listen to more music. I stopped scribbling about jazz many years ago and what outlets are there now? I think you should do entries on Humph and George Melly for the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography - they do updates on people and these two qualify I think.
I’m afraid health problems mean I can’t get out much although things may improve soon, so hearing live jazz is difficult - not so easy on the radio these days either.
Always glad to see you still active and thriving - not seen Rod Mason for years with him in Germany, he makes the odd trip to the UK so he is still keeping it together - an achievement in itself. Heard of a trad jazz musician fourty years old the other day! Is that a record?

Comment on HUMPH by Digby

Digby — Thu, 29 May 2008 07:44:26 +0000

Absolutely Jerry! A fine tribute and perceptive summation (if I may say so) of Humph’s many talents.

There’s to be a major TV tribute (on BBC2) at the end of July. Keep a lookout!

Great to hear from you again. Hope all’s well……..

Digby.

Comment on HUMPH by jerry westall

jerry westall — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:23:02 +0000

Humph was a major influence on my life. At school he was the person who was mainly responsible for turning me onto the world of jazz. I still treasure, and listen to, the early Lyttelton band with Wally Fawkes - then came the magnificent Bruce Turner and the beautiful sessions with Elkie Brooks and the close association with Buck Clayton. After this the Humph mainstream bands never quite captured, for me, the exuberance of the earlier days - but always the bands provided the best played music. His last band which was filmed for BBC Channel 4 at the Brecon Jazz Festival gave us memorable lovely moments. His trumpet could be moving or exciting - he was a superb band leader and his could also finger a clarinet pretty well as I remember him playing with Wild Bill Davison.
On radio Humph’s “Best of Jazz” was always worth listening to. His catholic taste could never suit the interests of all his listeners but I always appreciated his respect for traditionalists even though he had developed his musical style away from classic jazz.
Then his books, always worth reading; so interesting and witty. The Flook cartoons with Wally Fawkes and George Melly - charming quirky humour.
The Chairman of “I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue” was maybe the best known Humph to the wider audience and like “Bad Penny Blues” both popular and good.
Monday evenings are never going to be the same - when is Digby getting the invitation from the BBC to give us “The Best of Jazz” again?
Thanks to Humph I have ploughed the field of jazz with greater knowledge and appreciation. The vital strength of Doctor Jazz always reminds us that despite many many horrors it is still a wonderful world.