 There have been more than a few albums inspired
by Montana's unbridled beauty. Hometown Troy boy, composer and horn-player Doug
Higgins continues in that vain on his first published work.
An anchor of many prestigious bands while living in Spokane, the school music
teacher now working in western Washington says the compilation is about his
experience and family history in Montana and "the beautiful Montana Hi-Line
traveling on its way east to west in nature's setting." But its musings can
easily be interpreted as a daylong immersion.
The CD is lovely to greet the morning with. Aided by music production software
and various guest artists, Higgins awakens us with the vast movie-magic
panorama of "Yaak River Sunrise." We next dip into the coolly ominous, slightly
apprehensive sounds of roiling water, perhaps, or bumblebees, as we make our
way "On the Kootenai."
Each piece is extended, stretched out, and evokes many emotions. "Montana
Dreams" is romantic and reflective, with lots of muted, bluesy trumpet a la
Mark Isham. Just a wisp of jazzy bass intro invites thoughful piano, and
woodwinds make silky entrances on "Welcome to the Buckhorn," a bit of Stephen
Foster Americana that romps into a hoedown.
"Hometown Montana" features a bird chirping and lots of violin, and Troy
musician Frank Chiaverini's tremolo mandolin and sweet Dobro. Softly majestic
piano chords and bird calls meld in "Glacier Park," and a cricket chirps
announces, what? A mosquito, for crying out load, chased off by a clarinet -
just as we prepare for evening in "The Prairie." (Higgins once taught in Saco,
which he calls the "mosquito capital" of the world). "Sundown" is a reprise of
the first piece, completing the cycle and bringing a close to the album.
There's nice pacing here and good musicianship all around. Higgins underpins
the whole effort with his masterful playing on many horns - flugelhorn, trumpet
and French horn among them. The album comes with a booklet in which Higgins
elaborates on his musical vision. Mariss McTucker LIVELY
TIMES, JULY 2007 - PAGE 5
 Doug Higgins, a Seattle school teacher and member of a Troy
homestead family, will release his new CD composition called "Montana Dreams"
at the Fourth of July celebration at Roosevelt park in Troy.
The gold rush brought Higgins' great-grandfather, Harry Higgins, to the Yaak
Valley in the late 18980s. He worked in his mine on his property and operated
the Buckhorn Lodge where travelers rested on the way to the mining area of
Sylvanite.
Higgins composed a 'tone poem' in which instruments represent his experiences
on the Yaak River in reminiscences of over 50 years of fly fishing on his
family's property.
Troy musician and owner of Northwest Music, Frank Chiaverini performs on two
tracks of the CD; "Welcome to the Buckhorn" and "Hometworn Montana." Chiaverini
plays several instruments on the CD including guitar, mandolin Dobro and Irish
bouzouki.
Higgins records on his own label, "Montana Brass," and performs on the CD.
He maintains a web site, www.montana brass.com. David. F. LathamThe
Montanian Vol 19, No. 27 July 4, 2007
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Doug in Bannack Montana
Lively Times July 2007 issue.
Montana Brass Flyers and Posters:
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