Al Fairweather

One of Edinburgh’s ‘Royal High School Gang’ in 1940s with Sandy Brown, Stan Grieg, Dave Paxton, Bob Craig, Dizzy Jackson et al. Went through Edinburgh College of Art which retains in its collection his portrait of Sean Connery who was then working as an Art College model. Started on trombone but persuaded to switch to trumpet by Sandy Brown, according to George Hewitt. Edinburgh Art College and bands with Brown et al in West End Café etc before moving to London in 1953. With Cy Laurie for nearly a year then re-joined Brown, who along with Stan Greig had also moved south, for next twelve years. Played major part in development of the ‘Fairweather/Brown All Stars’ as trumpeter, composer and arranger of some of the most adventurous and exciting traditional/mainstream jazz ever produced in UK. Following Brown’s return to work as an acoustic architect, took over leadership of band before spending two years with ‘Acker Bilk’s Paramount JB’ in 1960s. Occasional work as an arranger with Stan Daly, Alan Littlejohn and Stan Greig while working as an art teacher. Returned to Edinburgh in poor health in 1980s and played with many bands including his own ‘Sundowners’ and ‘Fairweather Friends’ and the ‘East Coast JB’ in which he frequently played with contemporaries Paxton and Craig. With Ralph Laing wrote an incomplete jazz musical of ‘Lucky Jim’ with the approval of author Kingsley Amis. Reported to have been Humphrey Lyttelton’s favourite British jazz trumpeter. Died of a heart attack while painting a portrait of drummer Billy Law’s wife. A major figure in UK and worldwide jazz.