Big Nose Kate Fisher

The song Big Nose Kate Fisher by Ten Hands from their album Jazz for Jerks is a funky, eclectic track that captures the band's signature blend of jazz, rock, and playful absurdity, clocking in at a lively 92 beats per minute. While specific interviews or social media posts about this song are scarce, its quirky title likely nods to the historical figure Mary Katherine Horony, known as Big Nose Kate, a Hungarian-born outlaw and companion of Doc Holliday in the Old West. The band’s penchant for offbeat humor suggests they chose this name to evoke a colorful, rebellious spirit, fitting the album’s tongue-in-cheek title. Fans on platforms like Facebook fan groups often cite the song’s infectious energy, with one post in a group calling it “the perfect Zoo Crew spin for Zoo Freaks losing it to those wild horns.” The track’s upbeat tempo and brassy instrumentation make it a standout for DJs like the Zoo Crew, who thrive on spinning records that get their audience grooving.

Little direct trivia exists about the song’s creation, but Ten Hands has a history of weaving storytelling into their music, often inspired by oddball characters or cultural tidbits. In a 1990s interview snippet shared in a Dallas Music Archive fan site, lead vocalist Paul Slavens described their process as “throwing everything into a blender—jazz, funk, and whatever weird ideas we’re laughing about that day.” It’s plausible that Big Nose Kate Fisher emerged from such a jam session, with its title possibly sparked by a band member’s fascination with Western lore. The song’s placement on Jazz for Jerks, released in 1991, reflects the band’s peak experimental phase, where they leaned into satirical themes to poke fun at genre conventions, delighting fans who connected with their irreverent vibe.

Ten Hands got their start in Dallas, Texas, in the mid-1980s, born out of the city’s vibrant local music scene. The band, led by the charismatic Paul Slavens, began as a group of friends jamming in small venues, blending jazz, rock, funk, and avant-garde elements. Their early gigs at places like the Prophet Bar and Club Dada built a cult following, with fans drawn to their theatrical live shows and genre-defying sound. According to bio details on their official website, Slavens, a trained musician with a knack for improvisation, met drummer Alan Emert and bassist Steve Brand, forming the core of the band. They honed their craft through relentless gigging, eventually catching the ear of local producers. By 1988, they released their debut album, Kung Fu… That’s What I Like, which set the stage for their later work like Jazz for Jerks. Their grassroots approach and quirky charisma made them a staple in Dallas’s alternative music landscape.

You can keep up with Ten Hands through their Facebook, where they share updates on rare reunion shows and nostalgic posts about their ‘80s and ‘90s heyday. Their Instagram features grainy throwback photos and occasional teases of new music, though the band has been less active in recent years. On X, they engage sparingly, mostly retweeting fan praise or Dallas music scene news. Fans gather in places like the Ten Hands Fan Group on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks and others swap stories about epic live shows and favorite tracks like Big Nose Kate Fisher. The Dallas Music Archive fan site also offers a treasure trove of old flyers, photos, and fan-contributed memories, keeping the band’s legacy alive for new and old listeners alike.