Paul Jones & Digby
Fairweather
Rockin’ In
Rhythm
Saturday 24 January
7.45pm
Gulbenkian Theatre,
The Gulbenkian kicks
off its 40th year with an act that topped the charts 40 years
ago.
Rockin’ In
Rhythm features the dynamic
new teaming of Paul Jones – 1960s chart topping star of Manfred Mann, the
Manfreds and later his own Blues Band and Digby Fairweather's Half Dozen,
poll-winners of Marston's British Jazz Awards small group category 2005/6.
Don't miss this
top-of-the-bill presentation setting a rock icon alongside the poll-winning jazz
band.
Tickets
£20
Ends.
Press
Contact Paul Ripley phripley_at_tiscali_dot_co_dot_uk 01905 778177
For Images email f_dot_moran_at_kent_dot_ac_dot_uk
Paul Jones -
Biography
Paul Jones was one
of the young hopefuls who frequently “sat in” with ALEXIS KORNER’S BLUES
INCORPORATED in 1962. Others included Brian Jones, who offered Paul the job of
lead singer in the group he was forming. Today PJ has no regrets about turning
down THE ROLLING STONES. But the next time someone asked if he wanted to be in a
group, he said “yes”; it was THE MANN-HUGG BLUES BROTHERS, later known as
MANFRED MANN.
In 1963 Paul, Mike Hugg and Manfred
came up with a piece in response to a commission for a signature tune for the TV
programme “Ready, Steady, Go!”. The marriage of show and song may have been
mutually beneficial; it certainly did the group no harm, providing their first
hit, “5-4-3-2-1”
After several others, including two
number ones, Paul went solo in 1966 and had a few more, notably “I’ve Been A
Bad, Bad Boy”, from the film “Privilege”, co-starring JEAN SHRIMPTON. This was
followed by TV drama, a second film “The Committee” (recently released on DVD) a
couple of fringe plays – and then a full-time theatre career, beginning with
“Conduct Unbecoming”, in which he acted at Bristol Old Vic, London’s West End
and on Broadway. Subsequent roles included Romeo, Hamlet, leads in plays by
SHAW, ANOUILH, and the odd musical such as “Pippin” and
“Joseph”.
By 1979, Paul’s deep-rooted love of
R&B was becoming frustrated by his relentless acting schedule. He decided
the time was right for a band playing blues – and his first call was to TOM
McGUINNESS. The result was THE BLUES BAND. After 18 albums and more than a
quarter-century of touring the world, the band continues to attract new
generations of blues fans.
During these years Paul’s made
several excursions back into acting. After a stint as one of ANDREW LLOYD
WEBBER’S “Cats”, he joined The Royal National Theatre to play MacHeath in “The
Beggar’s Opera” and Sky in “Guys And Dolls”, going on to star in The Royal
Shakespeare Company’s “Kiss Me, Kate”. These last three also starred FIONA
HENDLEY, whom Paul married in 1984 (an indirect result of the final scene of
“Guys And Dolls”!). They now present a weekly programme on God
TV.
Doctor of Music (from
the University Of Portsmouth) and President of The National Harmonica
League, Paul’s played on soundtracks (several of which he composed) and many
recordings by artists including PERCY SLEDGE, TINA TURNER, KATIE MELUA and
MEMPHIS SLIM. His songs have been recorded by an equally varied bunch, from
early STEPPENWOLF to HELEN SHAPIRO to TEN YEARS AFTER. His weekly blues show on
BBC Radio 2 is a must-listen on Monday evenings, and his broadcasting
commitments have included writing specialist questions for “Mastermind”. In
2001, Paul was honoured by the TV show “This Is Your
Life”.
Digby
Fairweather - Biography
Digby
became a fulltime jazzman in l977 after twelve years as a qualified librarian in
From
l977, after giving up his day-job, he worked amongst others with Dave Shepherd,
the Midnite Follies Orchestra, the co-operative quartet 'Velvet' (formerly
Stephane Grappelli's Trio) and the Pizza Express All Stars. Later, from l983 he
concentrated on a variety of solo projects (including collaborations with
veterans Nat Gonella, Britain's first star trumpeter, and double-bassist Tiny
Winters) and led his own band the 'Jazz Superkings'; he also founded the charity
'Jazz College' with pianist Stan Barker in l979, the National Jazz Archive in
l987 and a number of other jazz-related organizations at this period, including
the Association of British Jazz Musicians and Jazz Section of the Musicians'
Union.
During
the l990s he combined playing with intensified broadcasting (for Jazz FM, BBC
World Service, and BBC Radios 2 and 3 for their five-night-a-week series 'Jazz
Parade') but in l998 returned to trumpeting fulltime, going back to the BBC only
for 'Specials' (including a live feature on 'Jobim's Bossa Nova', l999, and a
new series with George Melly 'It's Trad Dad', 2005).
A
prolific award-winner, his honours include 'BBC Jazz Society's Musician of the
Year' (l979), BT Jazz Awards (Trumpet l992/Services to jazz l993), Benno
Haussman Award for Services to Jazz (l993), and Freedoms of both London (l992)
and - his proudest achievement - of his hometown Southend-on-Sea (in their
'Millennium Roll of Honour' 2000).
Fairweather
played in the 'Best of British Jazz' package (alongside the legendary Don Lusher
from 2000-2006, the year of Lusher's death) and continues to lead the 'Great
British Jazz Band' (co-founded with his close friend the late trombonist Pete
Strange in l994). His own group 'Digby Fairweather's Half Dozen' (founded in
l995) began national touring alongside blues legend George Melly in January 2003
and won 'Best Small Group' in the British Jazz Awards for 2005/6. Since teaming
with Melly, Fairweather (who has appeared on over sixty albums since l977) has
recorded five more; including one with his Half-Dozen and Melly, 'Singing and
Swinging the Blues' (Observer Record of the Week in August 2003) and 'Things
ain't what they used to be' with the Half Dozen alone (which was one of the top
five choices for 'CD of 2003' for Jazz Journal International editor Eddie Cook
and several other critics).
His
autobiography 'Notes from a jazz life' was published to critical acclaim by
Northway Books in Autumn 2002 and a new DVD by Zoltan films 'Scenes from a Jazz
Life' (2005) tells his story in words, live footage and - of course - music!
Other books he has authored or co-authored, include 'How to play the Trumpet',
'Jazz; the Essential Companion', 'Jazz; the Rough Guide', 'Grove's Dictionary of
Jazz' and the 'Oxford Companion to Jazz'; his most recent book - a biography of
Nat Gonella and titled 'A life in jazz', co-written with Ron Brown - was
published by Northway Books in May 2005. In 2002/3 Fairweather joined a rosta of
American Stars at the Blackpool Jazz Party to widespread acclaim, and in
December 2005 after signing to Candid Records his second album with Melly - 'The
Ultimate Melly' (featuring Jacqui Dankworth, The Swingle Singers, Van Morrison
and his Half Dozen) was issued in time for his third Christmas sellout season at
Ronnie Scott's to rave reviews. Digby's newest book 'On the road with George
Melly; the last bows of a legend' (Robson Books) was published in August 2007
and George's last album with the Half-Dozen - 'Farewell Blues' was issued on
Since
George Melly's final performance Digby has begun a new musical teaming with pop
legend Paul Jones; their new album is planned for Spring 2008 for Robinwood
Productions and a documentary on the collaboration is planned with Walkergeorge
Films.