Singer To Singer

Wanted to do songs I wanted to sing. Formed band with Ronnie Rae on brass, Ronnie Rae junior on piano, John Rae on drums and Bruce Adams on trumpet, later joined by Brian Kellock on piano. Started sharing jazz knowledge to her jazz babies. Gigs in St Petersburg, Russia, USA and Canada, Switzerland and all over Scotland. Bringing musicians over the states for the Edinburgh Jazz Festival. Singing lessons with San Franciscan vocalist and teacher Madeline Eastman. Started to think about how to pass on the word. Asked Madeline to come to Scotland to teach on a course. Started the Fionna Duncan Vocal Jazz Workshop which ran 1996 to 2009 when Fionna became ill. This episode featured the song Underneath The Apple Tree from Fionna Duncan’s CD The Ca Va Sessions. Support the Show.

Singing ballads didn’t feel right because of having sung the high energy dixieland. Didn’t sing ballads until Fionna’s Fellas album. Changed vocal style after meeting Ronnie Rae. Encouraged by Jack Finlay to sing slightly more modern songs. Recorded a very slow version of I Can’t Give You Anything But Love. It was the first time to ever sing like that. Vocal energy and individual sound. Extraordinary energy of the early recordings. Kept going back to tried and tested. Impact of singing with pianists Brian Kellock and Ronnie Rae Junior. Try and make Brian Kellock smile during performances. Lack of confidence. Hates the bit before a gig. Spoken to psychologists. It’s do or die, so I do. Miss singing but I don’t miss the fear. Never used to hear applause, wanted to get on with next song and get it over with. Extraordinary storyteller. Have to believe in the lyrics. A songwriters dream. This episode featured the song I Can’t Give You Anything But love from Fionna’s Fellas Support the Show.

Started slowing down after workshops. Seriously ill for a few years. Nothing about singing mattered, only surviving mattered. Could hear music all the time in intensive care. Started doing gigs again with Brian Kellock as a duo. New repertoire in the last few years. Recording. No regrets except not paying attention when I was younger. Understanding insecurities. Forrie cairns was great in encouraging the Dixieland technique. Tried different methods to understand performance nerves. Needed someone to say ‘you’ll be fine.’ This episode featured the song Young and foolish from Young and Foolish released by Ten To Ten Records. Support the Show.

Unrehearsed live BBC show, wrong key for Fine Brown Frame, Roger Miller, Kenny Ball, Terry Lightfoot, Switzerland gigs, USA New Orleans Jazz Festival, Dennis Taylor, Ellis Marsalis, found out about jazz education in the states, sparked interest in passing on info, performed at American jazz festivals, Monty Alexander, the 60s in London Biba boutique, clothes, great singers in the states, Nelly Lurcher This episode featured the song ‘S’posin from Fionna Duncan’s CD Young and Foolish released by TenToTen records. It is available to buy from Propermusic.com. Support the Show.

European cabaret jazz artist scene, point number, agent and piano player giving direction – ‘you’re throwing it away,’ speaking between songs, nerves and talking and talking, comedy, getting rid of nerves, learnt from comedians on cabaret circuit, seeing the audience relax, didn’t sing for 6 years, slipped discs, car accident in turkey, took passport away, had to pay £600 to get passport and fly home, hospital in London, specialist in Harley street, flown to Glasgow, no more touring, became hairdresser, opened own salon, kept opening shops and working hard, didn’t listen to any music for 7 years, went to hear George Penman’s band, joined band, enjoyed so much felt immoral, joined Mike Hart’s band, emotional shut off, knocked by disappointment of salty dog, Edinburgh and Glasgow audiences, Edinburgh festival was mad, great, went to states with mikes band Sacramento, just finished 20 year reunion tour with stompers, gigs all round Scotland and documentary film of tour, incredible tour, Grampian tv, stv, bbc, concerts for 3 weeks all over country This episode featured the song On The Sunny Side of the STreet from Fionna Duncan’s CD The Ca Va Sessions Support the Show.

Never lifted the phone to look for work, passion for mainstream, meeting Ronnie Rae, bass became important, it had always been piano before, changed phrasing Dixieland was precise - sticking to the way the band did it, in the USA after meeting nelly lurcher met a guy who managed elderly jazz singers but Scotland was home, made album fionnas fellas with east and west Scotland musicians, made in 6 hours, toured Canada with the Clydevalley stompers, leading own band, repertoire choice, trumpeter Bruce Adams This episode featured the song Trombone Cholly from George Penamans album Fidgety Feet Support the Show.

Sophie Bancroft in conversation with jazz vocalist Fionna Duncan. Stories from Fionna's life including being in the brownies, her musical life at home and school, the Glasgow folk scene in the 50s, live broadcasts at the BBC, getting into jazz, a wee bit of Scotland in London, working at the deli counter in Woolworths and a photogenic voice. This episode features the song ‘I Was Doin Alright’ from Fionna Duncan’s CD Young and Foolish released by TenToTen records. It is available to buy from Propermusic.com. Support the Show.

Sophie Bancroft in conversation with jazz vocalist Fionna Duncan. Stories from Fionna's life including training as a nurse, time in the USA, strong instincts, learning from Ella Fitzgerald recordings, being a blonde, international gigs, microphones, spelling her name right and supportive parents. This episode features the song ‘Crosspatch from Fionna Duncan’s CD Young and Foolish released by TenToTen records. It is available to buy from Propermusic.com. Support the Show.

Sophie Bancroft in conversation with jazz vocalist Fionna Duncan. Stories from Fionna's life including meeting other jazz singers, having no girlfriends, receiving encouragement, storytelling, Ella’s influence, choosing repertoire, first time hearing Billie Holliday, changing style of singing This episode featured the song ‘Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby’ from Fionna Duncan’s CD Fionna’s Fellas released by Fat Records. Support the Show.

Sophie Bancroft in conversation with jazz vocalist Fionna Duncan. Stories from Fionna's life including realising that she wanted to perform, listening to lots of country music in the states, accompanying herself on the ukelele, her signature song Honeycomb, different singing voices, dueting with Lonnie Donegan, recording Mack The Knife, singing Glasgow street songs, first went to London with the Stompers, being the most travelled band in Britain, monitors and sound checks and often no microphone, This episode featured the song ‘You’ve Changed from Fionna Duncan’s CD Fionna’s Fellas released by Fat Records. Support the Show.

Sophie Bancroft in conversation with jazz vocalist Fionna Duncan. Stories from Fionna's life including the Clydevalley Stompers splitting up, moving to London, the Forrie Cairns band, getting to number 29 in the hit parade with Salty Dog, doing broadcasts at the BBC in London, cabaret gigs and 7 years at the Georgian Pussy Club This episode featured the song ‘Miss Brown To You from Fionna Duncan’s CD The Ca Va Sessions Support the Show.

Sophie Bancroft in conversation with jazz vocalist Fionna Duncan. Stories from Fionna's life including more stories from the Georgian Pussy Club, living in Highgate, London then Sandwich Street at Russell Square, leading a double life, glamorous clothes and no dressing rooms, the end of the Georgian Pussy Club, playing support to Louis Armstrong This episode featured the song ‘I’ve Got A Right To Sing The Blues from Fionna Duncan’s CD The Ca Va Sessions Support the Show.