nicola's biog

Nicola is the middle daughter of three girls and was born in Market Lavington, Wiltshire – a relatively large village next to Salisbury Plain – to two classically trained parents. Her dad is a violinist and her mum a cellist and pianist and they met at The Royal Academy of Music. From a young age Nicola (according to her mum!) expressed a desire to play the cello and the piano – so off she started and by the age of eleven had gained distinction in grade 8 on the cello and merit in grade 7 on the piano. Then boys and horse riding and swimming and going out kicked in and much to her parents' dismay the music took a back seat….. for about fourteen years really!

Then at around the age of 25, having acquired a degree in Performing Arts at Middlesex Poly (as it was then known) and begun half-heartedly singing in various bands and working in various market research establishments in London, Nicola decided she wanted to sing and play double bass – just like that! Her mum and especially her dad were mad Fred Astaire fans so she had seen all the films and heard many of the tunes so initially she began by just harmonising the melodies…….then one day some helpful and startled young lad introduced her to Paul Chambers. Nicola woke up!

Now based in Sheffield she has assembled herself a sparkling quintet that she regularly plays with, touring major jazz venues and festivals. The material is all her favourite jazz and Latin standards – arranged in her own inimitable fashion. As her esteemed uncle – Robert Farnon – once stated, “What a great choice of songs. What a fine group of musicians…….an absolute joy.”

In the last five years her music – and jazz – career has taken rather a back seat to that of her family and she is now the proud - and exhausted! – mother of two lovely girls, Billie and Jodie. That said she still strives to fit in gigs and festivals around the children (not literally!) and for the last few years Nicola has featured at the major jazz festivals alongside such Jazz luminaries as Digby Fairweather, Jim Mullen, Bruce Adams and Alan Barnes, Tony Kofi and the wonderful Michael Garrick Jazz Britannia.

Robert Farnon Connection: As the surname suggests – Nicola is actually related to the esteemed composer and arranger Robert Farnon. Her dad’s father and Robert Farnon’s father both left Ireland to emigrate to Canada in the early 1900’s – then Nicola’s grandfather decided to return – to England – whereas Robert Farnon’s father settled down in Toronto.

Nicola originally got in touch with Robert Farnon when she cheekily asked him for a foreword for her first CD –‘ Portrait Of A Farnon’. Thereafter they were regularly in touch and ‘Uncle Bob’ overwhelmed Nicola with his warmth, encouragement and continued enthusiasm, originality and brilliance that he showed in his compositions and arrangements. He was a truly inspirational man, loved and respected by family and friends alike – and such a lovely uncle too!

Nicola Farnon - Vocals and Double Bass