27th April: FaB Club Special...
Zoox and John Barden
John Barden opened the evening and put us in a lovely relaxed mood with some beautiful self penned songs and smooth guitar playing.
Next, was the main event of the evening. Zoox are a great combination consisting of fiddle, mandolin, percussion galore, contra bassoon, soprano sax, whistles and voices all makes for a very cool sound.
The first tune Abes Retreat played on tenor sax, fiddle and timba was very well received.
Two Fat Ladies which translated into 88 is the title of their new C.D. is an amazingly complex rhythmical short tune followed by Becky’s tune called Reverse Antics which relaxed us again.
Bread Machine written by Linda, sounds great on mandolin accompanied by a contra bassoon and darabuka, what a recipe!
Then they surprised us by singing a great song by the Waifs called When I Die, good singing girls.
Draggin the Bow has to be my favourite tune, such a cheeky sound, and virtuoso fiddle playing by Linda.
Becky was inspired to write this tune called Westwood Wander by her many walks through the Chiltern Hills, one can just imagine the paths winding through the trees under blue skies, beautiful tune played on low whistle and fiddle, leading very smoothly into yet another song Mattie Grove with a very black ending, strongly sung by Becky.
They finished off the first half with a toe tapping Wind that Shakes the Barley. Amazing rhythms again from Jo an the Darabuka.
John opened the second half with a sweet song called Why, very strong sentiments, followed by a bitter sweet love song, lovely.
Zoox again with yet another amazing instrument called a balafon played by a brilliant Jo. This tune called Musical Priest.
8 Years written by Becky has an almost middle eastern flavour, could be the great darabuka sound.
Choose a beat, any beat you like, and enjoy Windy Windy, very Penguin Café-ish, mandolin, balafon, whistle, fiddle, hands and electronic box. Wow!
They lulled us into a relaxed moment at the beginning and then threw Catharsis at us at 60mph, superb sax playing from Becky and Jo’s cross rhythmical timba playing, the audience loved it.
Beautiful violin sound from Linda in Yearning, melting so smoothly into the tune called Melting which was what we all did.
Next a little ditty called Liza Jane with voice’s and spoons, great fun.
The last two sets of tunes were very exciting and took us from
Fab Music at a Fab Club .
Jan B.
Thanks to Mike Parrott who was compering the evening...
