[Dixielandjazz] Wally Fawkes Birthday

[Ken Mathieson]

Hi All,
I'm not taking sides in the Cy Laurie stand-off, nor indulging in lists 
pointless or otherwise, but the absence of one name from this thread has 
been conspicuous: Forrie Cairns. He's retired from playing now, but 
still to the fore in Edinburgh, having spent most of his career in 
London and Zurich. His pro career involved playing with the Clyde Valley 
Stompers before leading his own Clansmen until trad jazz slipped off the 
radar of most of the British public. He had a spell of free-lancing 
around London before moving to Switzerland, where he was based for many 
years working with Bob Wallis as well as the Picadilly Six. He returned 
to Scotland about 20 years ago, settling in Edinburgh and still playing 
as forcefully and inventively as ever until his retirement for health 
reasons recently.

Forrie was recognised by Sandy Brown in The McJazz Manuscripts as giving 
"...Sandy cause for concern on the occasions they occupied the same 
bandstand." And "...Forrie made him more uncomfortable than anyone 
except Tony Coe." And "...given the freewheeling , uncommitted 
atmosphere of Sandy's band Forrie could have been unbeatable: he was 
never provided that climate, and was consequently under-rated." Sandy 
described Forrie's playing as being a "fierce amalgam of a number of New 
Orleans originals, notably Ed Hall..." There were certainly traces of Ed 
Hall in his sound, but his improvisations always struck me as unlike 
anyone else's due to their unpredictability. He was always a delight to 
play with as ideas just bubbled out of him and his rhythmic attack, 
swing and intensity were often fierce, but he could play with great 
sensitivity when the material called for it.

It's a great pity that he's not better represented on recordings, but 
you can catch him here along with some other fine local players on the 
Scottish scene:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5PVwxmtJ5s

Cheers,
Ken

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