Southend Jazz Centre honour founder with new venue Digby’s

The Jazz Centre UK officially opened Digby’s on Saturday at the Cultural Centre in the Beecroft Gallery, surprising founder and renowned jazz musician Digby Fairweather with a venue named in his honour.

The unveiling marks the start of the charity’s 10th anniversary year and a major step forward in its ambition to become a national cultural hub for jazz.

Mr Fairweather said he was “absolutely thrilled” by the tribute, which had been kept secret by trustees and volunteers until the big reveal.

“It’s the first time anything like this has happened to me and I’m deeply indebted to everyone involved,” he said.

“The jazz centre is doing terrifically well. On the day I received my club name, we also introduced our brand-new stage, which now means we’re an accredited national music venue. That opens the door to new grants and moves us closer to becoming a national cultural centre for jazz in the UK.”

The new stage – built in-house in a matter of days by volunteers led by the club’s chief executive officer Kevin Buck – was put to use immediately, as Southend mayor Nigel Folkard officially opened Digby’s during a sold out charity concert.

The event, featuring Debbie Bines and Heather Simmons’ new show celebrating women in jazz, raised more than £1,000 for Southend in Sight and Southend Hospital.

The mayor praised the “energy, expertise and passion” of the performers and the centre, which drew a record audience.

The concert’s rhythm section included Tim Huskisson, Alan Clarke and Jerome Davies.

Mr Buck, who is a Southend councillor , highlighted the significance of opening Digby’s stage for young musicians and community groups.

He said: “The opening of the stage at Digby’s is about far more than performance - it’s about possibility. We want young people and emerging artists to experience what it feels like to stand under the lights, to hear an audience respond, and to gain confidence in a real, working jazz venue.”

Chairman Matthew Fisher said Digby’s marked a “major step” towards creating a permanent cultural home for jazz in the UK.

He said: “Our aim has always been to build a space that is open, welcoming and rooted in community, while honouring the national and international significance of jazz.”

Matt Dent, councillor for culture and tourism, described the centre as “one of the jewels in Southend’s music scene”, adding that the new stage “looks fantastic”.