Janice Finlay's first feature CD, She's Hip, was truly a labour of love! Launched at a sold-out release party, the CD was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award in the outstanding jazz recording category.

The recording includes 8 of her original compositions, and three of her arrangements: a breath-taking version of Georgia on My Mind, a swingin' jazz waltz treatment of Fauré's Pavane, and an Illinois Jacquet inspired take on In a Mellow Tone.

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Janice was able to pick her dream team for the project including engineer Howard Rissin at Mid-can Studios in Winnipeg. Canada and producer Larry Roy.

The chemistry of the musicians was simply extraordinary! For Janice, what really put the project into motion was having well-known Canadian jazz composer, arranger, trombonist and pianist Hugh Fraser agree to do the session. Janice met Hugh when she attended a three-week jazz workshop at the Banff Centre jazz workshop residency where his positive, joyful approach to making music was inspiring and delightful.

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Another well-respected Canadian jazz artist, Winnipeg ex-pat and fellow McGill alumnus Mike Downes was added to the project on acoustic bass. Though they had never played together prior to the session, he and drummer Kelly Marques melded beautifully into a tight grooving unit from the first tune. Winnipeg guitarist Ron Halldorson was an inspired addition as well; in fact, he is also on Janice's second CD!

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Mike Herriott (trumpet) and Christian Dugas (percussion) both contributed top-notch performances that rounded out the final product perfectly.

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Several of the compositions on the CD were created during private composition lessons with multi-instrumentalist, composer and arranger Don Thompson. This 4-week course of study was made possible through a grant from the Manitoba Arts Council and proved to be seminal to Janice's maturation as a composer. Don was part of the Banff Centre jazz workshop residency program mentioned above and his unwavering support of Janice's early development as a composer is the reason she developed her talents in that area.

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