Terence Higgins
Ani DiFranco / Warren Haynes
Overview
New Orleans is known for it's great music and culture,and it is also known for spawning some of greatest drummers in the world. Every serious drummer has been influenced by New Orleans style drumming at some point in there developement. With a unique blend of slinky street beats, New Orleans funk, R&B, zydeco, blues, traditional jazz, and swing, gives New Orleans Drummers that thang!!!.....But don't get it twisted, "New Orleans style of drumming is not method book friendly, It's all about the feel of it, It's a feeling thing and It's part of the fabric of New Orleans".
Terence was born in New Orleans in 1970 and was raised in the suburb of old Algiers. He was introduced to the drums at a very young age by his great grandfather and he has been playing ever since. In high school he was one of two students chosen from the state of Louisiana to perform in the McDonald's All-American band, after high school he enrolled in music studies at Southern University, after a few years he decided to pursue a career in the music business.
Specializing in New Orleans grooves and keeping in touch with the Crescent City's second line tradition and early New Orleans funk and R&B, he draws his influences from the legends of New Orleans drumming such as: Baby Dodds, Earl Palmer, Smokey Johnson, Charles "Hungry" Williams, Shannon Powell, James Black, Herlin Riley, Zigaboo, Joe Lastie, Idris Mohammed, Ricky Sebastien, Herman Ernest, and Mean Willie Green and also his peers: Adonis Rose, Brian Blade Gerald French, Donald Edwards, Troy Davis, Stanton Moore, Russell Batiste Jr., Jeffrey "Jellybean" Alexander, Doug Belote, Alfred Salvant, Raymond Weber and many other drummers around the world.
His professional career has taken him all over the world and his unsurpassed skills on the drums has allowed him to play with an eclectic group of musicians.Terence credits George Porter Jr of the Meters for taking him under his wing and introducing him to the vast repertoire of New Orleans music. Terence has performed with artist like Dr. John, Earl King, Marva Wright, Kermit Ruffin, Snooks Eaglin, Johnny Adams, George Porter Jr., The Wild Magnolias, Dave Badie, Ivan Neville & Dumpsta funk, Jon Cleary, Donald Harrison, Allen Toussaint, Michelle Shocked, Norah Jones, Renee Mcrary, John Scofield, DJ Logic, Bobby Jordan, Ed Perkins, Theryl "Houseman" Decluet, Micheal Ward, Robert Randolph, Widespread Panic, The Black Crows, North Mississippi All-Stars, Treme Brass band, Fats Domino and many other New Orleans artist. He is now touring and recording with one of New Orleans premier groups the Dirty Dozen Brass Band as well as his own band Swampgrease.
Growing up in New Orleans has exposed him to some of the greatest music and culture the world has to offer, Terence is no exception, as the next generation continues the legacy of the musical heritage of the city of New Orleans.