Heather Masse, a New York-based singer-songwriter and member of the Billboard-charting folk group the Wailin’ Jennys, is returning to her home state this weekend to perform in the North Windham Union Church’s final 2015 Music with a Mission concert.
Masse, 33, who grew up in Lovell and began singing at an early age, will be featured in the concert with pianist Jed Wilson on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. at the church on Roosevelt Trail.
Masse has performed at venues around the world and continues to perform nationally nearly every week. She has appeared frequently on A Prairie Home Companion, a live radio variety show hosted by Garrison Keillor – both as a member of the Wailin’ Jennys and as a solo performer – and has shared the stage with artists such as Elvis Costello, Wynton Marsalis, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, and Emmylou Harris.
She has also performed with the contemporary bluegrass band The Wayfaring Strangers, Mark O’Connor’s Hot Swing Trio, and recorded an album with contemporary swing band, Joy Kills Sorrow in 2006. Masse released an EP, “Many Moons,” with Wilson in 2008.
Red House Records released Masse’s first full-length album featuring her solo debut, “Bird Song,” in 2009. The Wailin’ Jennys’ latest recording “Bright Morning Stars,” was released in 2011.
In 2013 Red House Records released “Lock my Heart,” a jazz album Masse recorded with legendary pianist Dick Hyman.
“I met Dick on Prairie Home Companion,” Masse said. “I had been a fan of his playing and his music, and Garrison suggested that we do a song together on the show. We played, and it was very magical. I had wanted to make an album of jazz standards for a long time, and thought how amazing would it be to make an album with Dick Hyman, so I called him and he said ‘yes.’ I was thrilled. It was a really fun project.”
According to Music with a Mission committee chair Jim McBride, the concerts began in 2013 and have raised more than $26,000 for the North Windham Union Church and a variety of local nonprofit organizations. Proceeds from Saturday’s show will benefit SMART Child & Family Services of Windham. The mission of SMART, located on Route 115 in North Windham, is to partner with individuals, families and communities to provide integrated and compassionate behavioral health services to improve the well-being of those in need. Local businesses and restaurants will be donating items in a raffle during the concert to help raise additional funds for the organization.
Masse lives in New York with her husband, Ian, and son, August. She spoke with the Lakes Region Weekly this week about her latest album, set to release in February, and her upcoming performance.
Q: First of all, what inspired you to become a singer-songwriter?
A: I started writing songs pretty late in my singing career. It wasn’t until 2007, when I joined the Wailin’ Jennys that I began taking songwriting on more seriously. I studied jazz voice performance at The New England Conservatory of Music, so I always thought of myself more of singer than a songwriter. Growing up, I listened to and adored great songwriters like Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Neil Young and Leonard Cohen, as well as the great songwriters of the American Songbook like Hoagy Carmichael, Harold Arlen, and Irving Berlin. So even though I had been exposed and inspired by many incredible songwriters, it wasn’t until I joined the Jennys that I started exploring and analyzing some of my favorite songs from the perspective of how they were crafted.
From that process, I started writing my own songs and soon found my own songwriting voice. With a lot of support from my husband, Ian, I found the courage to make my first full-length album “Bird Song” in 2009, an album of all my own original songs. It was scary, but very fulfilling.
Q: How often do you return to Maine to perform, and where? What do you like most about performing here?
A: I return to Maine to perform about once or twice a year. The Stone Mountain Arts Center in Brownfield is one of my favorite spots. I love coming to Maine. I grew up in Lovell and there is nothing like performing with a bunch of fellow Maineiacs in the audience. Mainers are warm, kind, attentive and have just the right amount of weird.
Q: Is this your first time performing in the North Windham Union Church’s Music with a Mission concert series? What are you looking forward to?
A: This is my first time performing at the North Windham Union Church Music with a Mission. I am very much looking forward to the concert. I will be playing with one of my favorite pianists, Jed Wilson. Jed also happens to be my brother-in-law (married my sister). I love playing with Jed and I’m excited to try out some new material with him this weekend. I am also really excited to be able to give something back to the community. I love that Music with a Mission has given us an opportunity to support SMART Child and Family Services – an organization whose mission is to partner with individuals, families and communities to improve the well-being of those in need.
Q: Why is your performance this weekend in Windham important to you?
A: It is important, because playing and sharing music is a magical gift. I find the give and take of performing for an audience, especially a hometown audience, extremely heart-opening and fulfilling.
Q: Tell us about your newest release with Red House Records, “Lock my Heart.” Will you be singing this song during Music with a Mission? What other songs will you be performing?
A: I recorded Lock my Heart about 3 1/2 years ago. The album is a duo record with the great pianist, Dick Hyman. It has an array of songs from the Great American Songbook, as well as a few originals. I’ve always wanted to record an album of jazz standards, and when I met Dick Hyman on A Prairie Home Companion, I daydreamed about making it with him. I finally got the courage to ask him, and amazingly he agreed! It was a great honor to collaborate with him and make this record. Jed and I may play a song or two from the album but will probably try out a few new originals, and some covers.
I have a new record coming out in February with the great trombonist, Roswell Rudd. Roswell is a legend in the jazz world, and also an incredible human being. It was an honor and great fun to make this record with him after collaborating as neighbors for the last three years. The record is called “August Love Song” and will also be put out on Red House Records.
Q: Why would you encourage people to attend the concert this weekend?
A: I would encourage them to attend because they will support a great organization and experience some music that we would love to share.
Q: Do you have any other upcoming concerts in Maine?
A: I don’t have anything at the moment, but that may change, so you can always check my website at: www.heathermasse.com.
Heather Masse, a member of the Canadian folk group the Wailin’ Jennys, is set to perform in the final 2015 Music with a Mission concert at North Windham Union Church on Saturday.Send questions/comments to the editors.
