Fiona Finden
(tenor sax, vocals); Stu Finden (tenor sax); James ? (Keys); Jim Crinson
(bass); Eric Stutt (Drums).
(Review by Ann Alex).
This was a hugely
enjoyable gig, which deserved a larger audience, although this venue looks full
with just 15 or so people. The only problem was that the band has the alphabet
in a different order from the rest of us, or so it seemed. The order of tunes was alphabetical we were
assured, starting at ‘M’ with The Message,
but it seemed to go haywire from there! But joking apart, a fine set,
adventurously boppy, interesting songs, tight playing and lots of great solos.
Most tunes began with
either the melody sung by Fiona or the horns doing a chorus in harmony (one of
my favourite sounds); then Stu turning to the keys and bass during his solo,
solos from both keys and bass, then horns in harmony again, or a lovely chorus
from our singer. Not forgetting 4’s
between Stu and Eric on some tunes, and a welcome drum solo on the second
number which was Miles Davis’s All Blues.
And the bop feel was enhanced by the circle of light above the band with
psychedelic patterns moving through it.
The mood then changed
for Autumn Leaves, sung gently by
Fiona, with just the right amount of scat at the end, followed by Sonny Rollins’
Doxy; then an original written by Jim
Crinson; and God Bless The Child,
sung feelingly by Fiona, herself a mother, which maybe you have to be to fully
interpret this song. The first half was
rounded off with a bop version of Whispering.
The second set included I Fall In Love Too Easily with some neat
call and response between voice and Stu’s sax; a lively, amusing, Sister Sadie (‘never hurried, never
worried’); Miles Davis’ So What; Blues
For Stu; (Fiona commented that Stu’s isn’t often blue). Then came a Fiona original which I
reluctantly missed as the Metro called me home.
I daresay that Michael
Bublé at the Arena last night was ok, but I was glad to be where I was. – Sorry
Mike, maybe next time. Ann
Alex
1 comment :
Nice comments Ann, Thank you we are playing at Hexham Thursday !.
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