Fingerobics is the latest project of County Durham guitarist Mick Yare. For the last 11 years, Mick has been predominately associated with Wagga Jawaka, a band dedicated to the music of Frank Zappa, with whom he acted as musical director and arranger. He has played as a member of Sean Tyla’s band. (He of  Ducks Delux fame), contributed to veteran alto sax player and experimentalist Alex Hands various groups over the last decade and played with tenor sax player Nick Kennedy’s quartet. As a complete turnaround, he also plays with local singer/songwriter Mick Arnell, with whom he has had a 20 year association.

His time with Wagga Jawaka has given self-taught Mick a very good grasp of composing for large mixed ensembles and though an enjoyable experience, the time has come for Mick to delve back into the unpredictable world of original music. And that’s what Fingerobics is. Composed and arranged by Mick himself. It is all instrumental (currently) and Mick describes it as Groove Orientated Fusion with strong rhythms and catchy melodies. That is not to say the improvisational side has been left behind. Along with the arranged material, there is also plenty of semi-written skeleton pieces for the band to develop as they play. In other words, They Jam! Also prepared is a pad (collection) of covers written by some of Mick’s other idols including Roland Kirk, Miles Davis, John Scofield, John Coltrane, Billy Cobham and others.

Fingerobics consists of Mick Himself; Mick Donnelly - Saxes; Hartlepool Trumpeter Mark Hill; Liz Carter on Keyboards; Ian Heddle on 5 string bass; Dave Hooks on drums and Wayne McAloon on percussion. This instrumentation seems to suit the ideas that Mick has come up with, giving plenty of colour. The band also has some strong soloists so there’s plenty of fire as well.