WHEN it comes to jazz Digby Fairweather is a walking encyclopaedia.

He has penned a series of books on this musical genre, including Jazz the Rough Guide and in 1988 he launched the National Jazz Archive - Britain's primary research centre for jazz music.

So perhaps it is no surprise that in his former life, before jazz took over his every waking hour, he was a librarian.

Before he became a full time jazzman in 1977 he worked night by exhausting night in everything from local soul and dance bands to avant-garde jazz ensembles in Southend and all over his home county of Essex.

Opening a new chapter in his life he moved up the jazz ladder and has chalked up more than 40 years as a professional jazz musician. Today he leads the award winning Digby Fairweather Half Dozen which returns to Eastleigh’s Concorde Club on May 23.

Digby has been described as the best ambassador the music could have.

And in a glowing tribute jazz legend the late Sir John Dankworth said: “Digby is one of our most articulate jazzmen in both his words and his music. Whatever he says or whatever he plays is of great interest to the world of jazz.”

The Half Dozen recorded their first album in 1998, played regular South Bank concerts, and in January 2003 began national touring alongside blues legend George Melly.

The group won the British Jazz Award for Top Small Group for a record breaking ten times in 11 years.

During their 20th Anniversary tour in 2015 they played nine jazz festivals, including Bude and Brecon, more than 30 theatres and a record-breaking number of jazz clubs.

After George Melly's final performance in 2007 Digby forged a new musical partnership with Hampshire born pop legend Paul Jones for the jazz-and-blues show called Rocking in Rhythm, a successful collaboration that continues today.

The Half Dozen sell out Ronnie Scott's with every appearance, and also play solo concerts for clubs and jazz festivals countrywide.

Digby pointed out that they did not have a catalogue of hit recordings from the old days of the Trad Boom.

He said: “We came along too late for that! But I think people are at last getting used to the idea that the UK needs a new band now that so many of the older giants - Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball, Humphrey Lyttelton and Terry Lightfoot have left the scene".

He says his band’s aim is simple - to play great music and entertain their audience.

Digby says: “That was good enough for Louis Armstrong and it's good enough for us too.

“I suppose we see ourselves as keepers of the flame for all the classic jazz traditions celebrated by our distinguished forefathers.

“After twenty years of preparation and performance I have a superb band of stars ready to carry the banner forward!"

Duncan Eaton