There were a number of fine clarinettists who emerged during the jazz boom of the fifties. One of the finest, and the very finest still active, is Forrie Cairns. He brings an energy and commitment to his playing which is admired by the young lions of Scottish jazz
Forrie started playing clarinet when he was 13 and joined his first jazz band when he went to university. A year later he joined Jim McHarg’s Jazzband which won an award for being Scotland’s best. After forming his own band he joined the Clyde Valley Stompers and was one of the reasons they went to the top of the tree.
In 1960 he was named Best Clarinettist in a newspaper poll. In 1962 he formed the Clansmen with Fionna Duncan and moved to London where he later freelanced particularly with Bob Wallis and the Storeyville Jazzmen with whom he was associated over a 20 year period.
In the late 70’s he moved to Switzerland while continuing to play with Bob and in the early 80’s he took part in the first in of several Reunion concerts with the Clyde Valley Stompers.
In 1989 he joined the Piccadilly Six, one of Europe’s best known professional jazz bands and has been one of the moving spirits behind the Scottish Jazz All Stars.