R.I.P. Jim Frias of the Nocturnes and the Chantays

GatoStrato

Joined: Jul 20, 2016
Posts: 39
Sjobergastan,a small nation state hidden in the mountains of Taos Co. NM.

Posted on Jan 25 2017 10:48 AM

This is very sad news... My deepest condolences to all family and friends.
Fly on Jim!

—

Salud!

Mark

Top

ArtS

Joined: May 09, 2008
Posts: 1406
Isle of Kent, MD
United States

Posted on Jan 25 2017 11:35 AM

I only had the privilege of interacting with him once back in my Reverb Galaxy days. He was very humble, open to any gig and a true professional.

—

Surf.The most dangerous of genres...

Surfcat

MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus
THE JOURNEY HOME - Free download (2025) - Agent Octopus (Single)

BANDCAMP - Agent Octopus
YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf
BANDCAMP - Reverb Galaxy

Top

surfbeatnik

Joined: Apr 01, 2007
Posts: 347
Sea Country, CA, USA
United States

Posted on Jan 25 2017 02:28 PM

He was always smiling, filling the room with positive vibes and great musicianship...a pleasure to share a stage with.

So sad to hear of his passing...RIP Jim

—

Surfbeatnik

Top

Nokie

Joined: Oct 06, 2008
Posts: 550
So Cal
United States

Posted on Jan 25 2017 03:26 PM

This is just the most devastating news. It's great reading all the stories of Jim. He really was the nicest of guys and a most generous musician. He'd fit the bill for a big surf festival down south a good fifteen or more years ago. I'm purdy sure Dick Dale was the headliner. Someone is going to have to remind me of the details on that one.

Similar to so many other reports, he played on a recording with my Fabulous Plank-tones in 2003. And he was often ready to go whenever we played in the Huntington Beach area. The last time I played with him was at the jam session at Don the Beachcombers following the 2013 SG101 Convention. I started into "Harlem Nocturne" and Jim let the melody wail out of his sax in his own classic style all the while engaging the audience by shrinking the proximity between himself and various onlookers in his version of the close-up, (I believe this prompted Martin Cilia to the bass and Lorenzo to the drums). I'd seen him a couple of times since at the various events but always looked forward to another jam with him. I'm so sad to know that's not gonna happen . I'm really going to miss him - he was taken way too soon. -Marty

—

"Hello Girls!"

Last edited: Jan 26, 2017 10:56:30

Top

NeedsMoreReverb

Joined: Dec 12, 2007
Posts: 318
1 Gold Star

Posted on Jan 25 2017 08:55 PM

RIP Jim

Top

mom_surfing

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 5323
the outer banks of north carolina
1 Calendar Pin

Posted on Jan 25 2017 10:30 PM

Nokie wrote:

This is just the most devastating news. It's great reading all the stories of Jim. He really was the nicest of guys and a most generous musician. He'd fit the bill for a big surf festival down south a good fifteen or more years ago. I'm purdy sure Dick Dale was the headliner. Someone is going to have to remind me of the details on that one.

Similar to so many other reports, he played on a recording with my Fabulous Plank-tones in 2003. And he was often ready go whenever we played in the Huntington Beach area. The last time I played with him was at the jam session at Don the Beachcombers following the 2013 SG101 Convention. I started into "Harlem Nocturne" and Jim let the melody wail out of his sax in his own classic style all the while engaging the audience by shrinking the proximity between himself and various onlookers in his version of the close-up, (I believe this prompted Martin Cilia to the bass and Lorenzo to the drums). I'd seen him a couple of times since at the various events but always looked forward to another jam with him. I'm so sad to know that's not gonna happen . I'm really going to miss him - he was taken way to soon. -Marty

'harlem nocturne' that evening gave me goose bumps......it was so good

—

www.surfintheeye.com

Top

BenRumson

Joined: Jun 07, 2011
Posts: 6
Huntington Beach

Posted on Jan 25 2017 11:08 PM

RIP, Jim. I didn't know him well but my wife and I ran into him at several of the Surfin' Sundays concerts, usually the ones in the museum parking lot where we'd chat with him. One memorable time was at Don the Beachcombers on a Saturday night of SG101 several years back where he shared a booth with us. We had a great time that night chatting with him and listening to the music. He was a great guy and one of the friendliest people I've met.

Top

PolloGuitar

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 5128
San Francisco
United States

Posted on Jan 26 2017 03:43 PM

I'm really bummed to hear this news. When I first started playing shows in SoCal in '95, Jim was always hanging out at the clubs and very friendly. He was the only first waver I'd see. And not just once or twice, but every time. And he really liked surf music; didn't have the attitude that it was dumb music they did when they were kids. The last time I remember having a good conversation with him was in 2012 at Don the Beachcomber. He will be missed!

—

Buy Endless Drummer @ Bandcamp
Frankie and the Pool Boys website
Buy Speed of Dark @ Bandcamp
Pollo Del Mar website
My Blog- Euro Tour Blog
Pool Boys on Spotify
INSTAGRAM
Frankie & The Pool Boys on Facebook
Pollo Del Mar on Facebook
DJ Frankie Pool Boy on North Sea Surf Radio

Last edited: Jan 26, 2017 15:45:59

Top

LittleKahunaCraig

Joined: Jan 09, 2008
Posts: 393
Orange County, CA
United States

Posted on Jan 26 2017 07:18 PM

The Nocturnes would like to share their stories and feelings about the passing of their good friend Jim Frias...

http://nocturnesband.com/jim-frias-tribute.html

—

Craig Skelly

Little Kahuna
www.littlekahunamusic.com
The Breakaways
The Curl Riders

Top

reventlos

Joined: May 23, 2006
Posts: 209
Costa Mesa
1 News Pin

Posted on Jan 27 2017 04:05 PM

Very nice turnout for Jim's graveside service today in Orange. Appropriately, the wind was blowing like mad, along with some soulful sax from Adrian Tapia in tribute to Jim. Surf musicians were well represented by Bob Spickard, John Blair, Dave Wronski, Kurt Steinbeck, Frank Hughes, Tom Potts, Tracy Longstreth---please forgive if I omitted a few others.

Dial up a few Youtube vids of Jim in action, and hoist a glass to another great cat who loved to play, and left us wanting more.

Top

shivers13

Joined: Jul 29, 2009
Posts: 2605
Boss Angeles, CA
1 News Pin

Posted on Mar 16 2017 12:11 AM

This really made me sad. Jim Frias was a great guy. Proud to say I got to jam with him. Pioneer of the true sound of surf!

—

BOSS FINK "R.P.M." available now from DOUBLE CROWN RECORDS!
www.facebook.com/BossFink
www.doublecrownrecords.com

Top

SpaceTimC

Joined: Apr 18, 2015
Posts: 189
Bay Area, CA
United States

Posted on Mar 16 2017 12:50 AM

We stand on the shoulders of giants. RIP Mr. Frias.

—

The Reverbivores - we're local favorites!

Top

GatoStrato Joined: Jul 20, 2016 Posts: 39 Sjobergastan,a small nation state hidden in the mountains of Taos Co. NM.	Posted on Jan 25 2017 10:48 AM This is very sad news... My deepest condolences to all family and friends. Fly on Jim! — Salud! Mark Top
ArtS Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 1406 Isle of Kent, MD	Posted on Jan 25 2017 11:35 AM I only had the privilege of interacting with him once back in my Reverb Galaxy days. He was very humble, open to any gig and a true professional. — Surf.The most dangerous of genres... Surfcat MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus THE JOURNEY HOME - Free download (2025) - Agent Octopus (Single) BANDCAMP - Agent Octopus YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf BANDCAMP - Reverb Galaxy Top
surfbeatnik Joined: Apr 01, 2007 Posts: 347 Sea Country, CA, USA	Posted on Jan 25 2017 02:28 PM He was always smiling, filling the room with positive vibes and great musicianship...a pleasure to share a stage with. So sad to hear of his passing...RIP Jim — Surfbeatnik Top
Nokie Joined: Oct 06, 2008 Posts: 550 So Cal	Posted on Jan 25 2017 03:26 PM This is just the most devastating news. It's great reading all the stories of Jim. He really was the nicest of guys and a most generous musician. He'd fit the bill for a big surf festival down south a good fifteen or more years ago. I'm purdy sure Dick Dale was the headliner. Someone is going to have to remind me of the details on that one. Similar to so many other reports, he played on a recording with my Fabulous Plank-tones in 2003. And he was often ready to go whenever we played in the Huntington Beach area. The last time I played with him was at the jam session at Don the Beachcombers following the 2013 SG101 Convention. I started into "Harlem Nocturne" and Jim let the melody wail out of his sax in his own classic style all the while engaging the audience by shrinking the proximity between himself and various onlookers in his version of the close-up, (I believe this prompted Martin Cilia to the bass and Lorenzo to the drums). I'd seen him a couple of times since at the various events but always looked forward to another jam with him. I'm so sad to know that's not gonna happen . I'm really going to miss him - he was taken way too soon. -Marty — "Hello Girls!" Last edited: Jan 26, 2017 10:56:30 Top
NeedsMoreReverb Joined: Dec 12, 2007 Posts: 318	Posted on Jan 25 2017 08:55 PM RIP Jim Top
mom_surfing Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 5323 the outer banks of north carolina	Posted on Jan 25 2017 10:30 PM Nokie wrote: This is just the most devastating news. It's great reading all the stories of Jim. He really was the nicest of guys and a most generous musician. He'd fit the bill for a big surf festival down south a good fifteen or more years ago. I'm purdy sure Dick Dale was the headliner. Someone is going to have to remind me of the details on that one. Similar to so many other reports, he played on a recording with my Fabulous Plank-tones in 2003. And he was often ready go whenever we played in the Huntington Beach area. The last time I played with him was at the jam session at Don the Beachcombers following the 2013 SG101 Convention. I started into "Harlem Nocturne" and Jim let the melody wail out of his sax in his own classic style all the while engaging the audience by shrinking the proximity between himself and various onlookers in his version of the close-up, (I believe this prompted Martin Cilia to the bass and Lorenzo to the drums). I'd seen him a couple of times since at the various events but always looked forward to another jam with him. I'm so sad to know that's not gonna happen . I'm really going to miss him - he was taken way to soon. -Marty 'harlem nocturne' that evening gave me goose bumps......it was so good — www.surfintheeye.com Top
BenRumson Joined: Jun 07, 2011 Posts: 6 Huntington Beach	Posted on Jan 25 2017 11:08 PM RIP, Jim. I didn't know him well but my wife and I ran into him at several of the Surfin' Sundays concerts, usually the ones in the museum parking lot where we'd chat with him. One memorable time was at Don the Beachcombers on a Saturday night of SG101 several years back where he shared a booth with us. We had a great time that night chatting with him and listening to the music. He was a great guy and one of the friendliest people I've met. Top
PolloGuitar Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 5128 San Francisco	Posted on Jan 26 2017 03:43 PM I'm really bummed to hear this news. When I first started playing shows in SoCal in '95, Jim was always hanging out at the clubs and very friendly. He was the only first waver I'd see. And not just once or twice, but every time. And he really liked surf music; didn't have the attitude that it was dumb music they did when they were kids. The last time I remember having a good conversation with him was in 2012 at Don the Beachcomber. He will be missed! — Buy Endless Drummer @ Bandcamp Frankie and the Pool Boys website Buy Speed of Dark @ Bandcamp Pollo Del Mar website My Blog- Euro Tour Blog Pool Boys on Spotify INSTAGRAM Frankie & The Pool Boys on Facebook Pollo Del Mar on Facebook DJ Frankie Pool Boy on North Sea Surf Radio Last edited: Jan 26, 2017 15:45:59 Top
LittleKahunaCraig Joined: Jan 09, 2008 Posts: 393 Orange County, CA	Posted on Jan 26 2017 07:18 PM The Nocturnes would like to share their stories and feelings about the passing of their good friend Jim Frias... http://nocturnesband.com/jim-frias-tribute.html — Craig Skelly Little Kahuna www.littlekahunamusic.com The Breakaways The Curl Riders Top
reventlos Joined: May 23, 2006 Posts: 209 Costa Mesa	Posted on Jan 27 2017 04:05 PM Very nice turnout for Jim's graveside service today in Orange. Appropriately, the wind was blowing like mad, along with some soulful sax from Adrian Tapia in tribute to Jim. Surf musicians were well represented by Bob Spickard, John Blair, Dave Wronski, Kurt Steinbeck, Frank Hughes, Tom Potts, Tracy Longstreth---please forgive if I omitted a few others. Dial up a few Youtube vids of Jim in action, and hoist a glass to another great cat who loved to play, and left us wanting more. Top
shivers13 Joined: Jul 29, 2009 Posts: 2605 Boss Angeles, CA	Posted on Mar 16 2017 12:11 AM This really made me sad. Jim Frias was a great guy. Proud to say I got to jam with him. Pioneer of the true sound of surf! — BOSS FINK "R.P.M." available now from DOUBLE CROWN RECORDS! www.facebook.com/BossFink www.doublecrownrecords.com Top
SpaceTimC Joined: Apr 18, 2015 Posts: 189 Bay Area, CA	Posted on Mar 16 2017 12:50 AM We stand on the shoulders of giants. RIP Mr. Frias. — The Reverbivores - we're local favorites! Top

SurfGuitar101 Forums » Surf Music General Discussion »

R.I.P. Jim Frias of the Nocturnes and the Chantays