Al Fairweather
Encyclopedia
Alastair Fairweather (June 12, 1927 – 21 June 1993) was a British jazz
musician, born in Edinburgh
, Scotland
. Educated at the city's Royal High School
and Edinburgh College of Art
, Fairweather served his National Service
in Egypt
.
It was after being demobbed in 1949 that Fairweather started a band with his old schoolfriend Sandy Brown
, and in 1953, the pair went south to London
along with Stan Greig
. There they recorded a number of sides for Esquire Records
as the Sandy Brown and later Fairweather-Brown All Stars, and played amongst other places at the newly built Royal Festival Hall
.
When Brown went back to Scotland to complete his architecture
studies, Fairweather joined the Cy Laurie
Jazz Band. His powerful, Louis Armstrong
-inspired lead was a perfect foil for Laurie's Johnny Dodds
approach. From 1966 to 1968, he worked for clarinet
ist Acker Bilk.
Following a second career as a teacher
in Harrow, London
, Fairweather returned to Edinburgh
in 1987, where he remained and played until his death in 1993 at the age of 66.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician, born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Educated at the city's Royal High School
Royal High School (Edinburgh)
The Royal High School of Edinburgh is a co-educational state school administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. The school was founded in 1128 and is one of the oldest schools in Scotland, and has, throughout its history, been high achieving, consistently attaining well above average exam results...
and Edinburgh College of Art
Edinburgh College of Art
Edinburgh College of Art is an art school in Edinburgh, Scotland, providing tertiary education in art and design disciplines for over two thousand students....
, Fairweather served his National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
It was after being demobbed in 1949 that Fairweather started a band with his old schoolfriend Sandy Brown
Sandy Brown (musician)
Sandy Brown was a noted Scottish jazz clarinetist band leader and acoustic engineer who performed mostly New Orleans style and mainstream. He had a particular interest in African music, which was reflected in his compositions.-Biography:Brown was born in India of Scottish parents where his father...
, and in 1953, the pair went south to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
along with Stan Greig
Stan Greig
Stanley Mackay Greig is a Scottish pianist, drummer, and bandleader.Greig's father was a drummer and piano tuner. Greig played with Sandy Brown while still in high school in 1945, then played piano and drums with him from 1948 to 1954...
. There they recorded a number of sides for Esquire Records
Esquire Records
Esquire Records is the name of two defunct record labels:*Esquire Records , jazz record label founded by Carlo Krahmer and Peter Newbrook in 1947. It issued recordings by British musicians, and others, under licence, from the American Prestige label, the Chicago blues label Delmark, and the Swedish...
as the Sandy Brown and later Fairweather-Brown All Stars, and played amongst other places at the newly built Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
.
When Brown went back to Scotland to complete his architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
studies, Fairweather joined the Cy Laurie
Cy Laurie
Cyril "Cy" Laurie was an English jazz clarinetist and bandleader.Laure was an autodidact on clarinet. He put together his own band in 1947; George Melly debuted in this ensemble in 1948...
Jazz Band. His powerful, Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
-inspired lead was a perfect foil for Laurie's Johnny Dodds
Johnny Dodds
Johnny Dodds was an American New Orleans based jazz clarinetist and alto saxophonist, best known for his recordings under his own name and with bands such as those of Joe "King" Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Lovie Austin and Louis Armstrong. Dodds was also the older brother of drummer Warren "Baby"...
approach. From 1966 to 1968, he worked for clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
ist Acker Bilk.
Following a second career as a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
in Harrow, London
Harrow, London
Harrow is an area in the London Borough of Harrow, northwest London, United Kingdom. It is a suburban area and is situated 12.2 miles northwest of Charing Cross...
, Fairweather returned to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in 1987, where he remained and played until his death in 1993 at the age of 66.