The pride of Nokomis, Saskatchewan, Little Miss Higgins has joined forces with Winnipeg’s F-Holes for a brand new CD, “Bison Ranch Recording Sessions.”
Together they blend Little Miss Higgins’ love for early twentieth century jazz
and blues with the F-Holes’ unique take on jazz and roots music.
Together they open their tour from B.C. to Thunder Bay, Ontario to the Geomatic Attic, Sept. 23.
“It was great. They’re all really talented and in addition to that, they’re really great guys,” enthused Jolene Higgins getting ready to go to Winnipeg to begin pre-tour preparation with the F-Holes or the Winnipeg Five they have been dubbed for the album.
“And, because they’re already a band, they know how to work together,” she continued. She noted the collaboration came about after playing a couple shows with them which evolved into a discussion about recording an album together.
“Then Patrick (Alexandre, stand up bass) said why don’t you talk to me about producing it. So we produced it together,” she said
Jimmie James McKee plays trumpet, Eric Lemoine is on banjo and pedal steel, Blake Thomson on guitar, Patrick Alexandre Leclerc is on upright bass, Evan Friesen rounds out the Winnipeg Five on drums.
She enjoyed working with them and couldn’t choose just one important factor they brought to the music.
“They each have their individual talents. And that really came through when it came time for them to step up to the plate.
Trumpeter Jimmie James McKee added the horns to the music this time round.
“There were quite a few horns on the last CD. I had quite a lot of different horn players. But on this album, James brought the horns together,” she said.
“ There are two songs where the guys don’t play their instruments at all— they just sing and stomp around,” she said.
There is also a cover of an old Fats Waller tune, “ Keep a Song in your Soul.”
“ I have a really old recording of Mamie Smith singing it and I’ve always loved it, so I presented it to the guys. Blake, the guitar player really helped with the arrangement and helped me figure out the chord progression because there are horns everywhere on it. So it was great to have his knowledge,” she said.
She enjoyed recording the new CD in an old barn on a rural Manitoba bison ranch.
“ It’s all recorded live off the floors, so there was no overdubs, no fixing or picking the best line from each track. And we had to keep feeding wood into a wood stove to keep warm, even though it was April,” she reminisced.
“ It was all or nothing and I think it turned out great,” she enthused.
She noted some songs they wrote didn’t make the cut and others didn’t even make it to the studio.
“Some of the arrangements still need to be worked on,” she said.
Her long time partner Foy Taylor didn’t participate in this CD.
“He wanted to take a break from touring. Besides, he’s busy being mayor of Nokomis,” she giggled. She is pleased with the development on the new CD.
“It’s hard to say how different it is. I think I get more confident with each album. I learned a lot more on this album, which I’ll bring into the next one,” she said.
She is looking forward to coming back to Lethbridge.
“It’s been a while. I think the last time I was here was a couple of years ago in the (Southminster ) church with the Good Lovelies,” she said.
She hasn’t worked out the set list for this tour.
“Last time I played with them they opened the second set. I’ll get them to play some of their tunes because they are great and they’re still the F-Holes, so I want to let people know about them,” she said.
Little Miss Higgins and the Winnipeg Five play the Geomatic Attic, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. sharp. Tickets cost $30
