Music lifts spirits of cancer survivor

By Jade Lawton
A NARRE WARREN woman is taking the jazz world by storm after beating breast cancer.
Nicole Thorne plays the B-3 organ in the jazz trio B3Madness, along with Nick Pearce on the alto saxophone and Gary Devine on drums.
“The B-3 jazz organ is very rare, and I am pretty sure I am the only female B-3 jazz organist in Australia,” said Nicole.
The B-3 organ is a unique instrument, originally produced as a portable alternative to permanently installed types of church organs.
The use of both hands and feet by the performer creates a visually exciting and musically entertaining performance.
“Most people look at me in amazement, because you play the B-3 jazz organ with both your legs and arms,” said Nicole.
Nicole is now in remission from her breast cancer, completing her last round of chemotherapy just one week before playing to a packed crowd at the Inverloch Jazz Festival. “I can not describe how tired I was,” she said.
She has been playing the B-3 organ since only 2005. However, her previous training in the modern organ helped her adapt quickly.
The band has just released their debut album, entitled ‘It’s never too late’. “I chose that title for the album because we had finished it, then I got sick, and we didn’t end up releasing it until a year later,” said Ms Thorne. The trio has received some glowing reviews for their album, with Helen Simons from the ‘Jazzxpress Caravan’ radio program declaring it one of the ‘Top 10 Australian Jazz releases for 2008.’
Nicole used her album launch, held at The Blue Tile Lounge in Fitzroy, to promote a good cause as well as the album.
“The album launch raised money for ovarian cancer. I chose ovarian cancer because this is another serious condition, and I feel there is already a lot of money and awareness directed towards breast cancer,” she said.
Special guest at the launch was renowned musician Gil Askey, who is also a former producer of Diana Ross and the Supremes.
Nicole has a new outlook on life after her experiences with breast cancer.
“Facing your own mortality changes your perspective on a lot of things- life is too short not to do what you want.”
Ultimately, Nicole would like to travel further with the band, playing more gigs and festivals. Although the band has received glowing reviews, travelling has proved to be a problem.
“The only drawback of the B-3 organ is it weighs about 500 pounds and you need to hire a removalist to move it,” said Ms Thorne. One of my goals is to buy a B-3 portable, because I would be able to handle it myself and it fits in to the back of a station wagon. But it costs $30,000 so I have to start doing some serious saving.”