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Eddie Higgins
Born and raised in New England, Eddie (Haydn) Higgins started his professional career in Chicago, while studying at the Northwestern University Music School. For twenty years Eddie worked at some of Chicago's best known jazz clubs, including the Brass Rail, Preview Lounge, Blue Note, Cloister Inn and Jazz Ltd. His longest and most memorable job was at the London House, where he led the house trio for twelve years, playing opposite the biggest jazz stars of the 50's and 60's, including Stan Getz, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Errol Garner, George Shearing, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans and many others.
During his stay in Chicago, Eddie recorded a number of albums under his auspices and many more as a sideman with a wide variety of musicians, ranging in style from Coleman Hawkins to Wayne Shorter, Don Goldie to Freddie Hubbard, Jack Teagarden to Al Grey. Eddie's versatility is well-known: he has backed singers, done studio work as both pianist and arranger and worked in every jazz medium from Dixieland to Modern Jazz.
In 1970, Eddie moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and began spending winters in Florida and summers on Cape Cod, where he plays local clubs and enjoys sailing and tennis. Since the early 1980's, Eddie has traveled widely on the jazz festival circuit and has performed frequently in Europe and Japan. His releases on the Japanese "Venus" label have earned him number one in jazz sales on more than one album. In 1988, Eddie and jazz singer/pianist/artist Meredith d'Ambrosio were married and have become a popular team at clubs and festivals, as well as recording for Sunnyside Records.
In recent years, Eddie's recording activity has become even more prolific and attention to his play has grown to be more widely recognized. He has received praise from such as Nat Hentoff and Gary Giddons. Attempts to describe his style are exemplified by the following:
To these tributes, I would add that Eddie's play can be extraordinarily moving. Listen to his treatment of Brazilian themes on "Speaking of Jobim" and solo work on the album "Time On My Hands," the latter which achieves an almost unparalleled marriage of style, composition and audio fidelity. You would think it was being played in a cathedral.
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The Ten Best Jazz Christmas Albums Of All Time
by Peter J. Hoetjes
As temperatures drop and days grow short, Winter is once again upon us. For those looking to listen to the sounds of the season without resorting to December's relentless slew of glossy, generic cash-grabs, jazz can be a breath of fresh, wintry air. You won't find (many) singers on this list, since most people already know and have records by Frank, Dean, Ella, Karen, and more. Instead, I've put together jazz's greatest Christmas albums from the golden age to today. ...
read moreEddie Higgins: Elegance And Confidentiality
by Daniele Trucco
This article was translated into English and was first published on meer.com.The story of a refined pianist, feted as a sideman by the greats of international jazz and an authentic star of the Japanese record scene.The Ascent I met pianist Eddie Higgins on three separate occasions--the first time was in 2006 at a concert at the Teatro Piccolo Regio in Turin (Italy). Thin, reserved, extremely polite and helpful, with a weak and slightly hoarse tone of ...
read moreEddie Higgins Trio: Christmas Songs
by Dr. Judith Schlesinger
Tis the season (again? already?), and along with the usual relentless merchandising we get the new flock of Christmas jazz. So, striking an ecumenical note, here's the question: why is this Christmas CD different from all other Christmas CDs? After all, it contains a dozen of the most popular holiday songs, done in standard trio format. The answer goes beyond the cover, Meredith d'Ambrosio's fascinating egg-shell mosaic of a snowy Charles River, although it's a huge departure from Venus Records' ...
read moreChuck Hedges: Just for Fun
by J. Robert Bragonier
Some elitists persist in thinking that, despite the history of the art form, legitimate jazz today is only made in New York City. Others will agree in concept only if the West Coast is included as well. For those who disagree with both groups, Arbors Records has been a boon. Many releases on this label feature solid, swinging jazz that originates in the great heartland, played by musicians who are less well known but have talent and chops to burn. ...
read moreEddie Higgins: Christmas Songs
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
Every year at this time I choose a favorite jazz Christmas album to share with you. My annual selection has nothing to do with new releases or hot new artists. My criterion simply is beauty, which isn't so easy, since a great Christmas album is hard to find. For me, most tend to be too solemn or sticky sweet. Just right is a fine line in this genre. To make the cut, a holiday jazz album needs to be uplifting ...
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An Eddie Higgins Jam Session
Source:
Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
Because of the high volume of comments Rifftides received following our piece on the death of pianist Eddie Higgins, the staff thought there might be widespread interest in a memorial concert. We bring you the announcement as it arrived by e-mail from Florida. This will give you time to make plans to fly in from, say, Tokyo or St. Thomas.
There will be a Jam Session tribute to Eddie Higgins on Sunday, December 6 from 4pm to 6pm in the ...read more
Eddie Higgins, 1932-2009
Source:
Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
Eddie Higgins died on August 31st of lung cancer. Those who knew him called him by his given name, Haydn. He was a pianist of uncommon sensitivity, taste, subtlety and adaptability. He was equally accomplished and enthusiastic working with singers (his wife is Meredith d'Ambrosio), traditional bands (he unabashedly enjoyed the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee) and fiery young bebop lions (he wrote “Expoobident" for Lee Morgan and played on Morgan's album of that name).
His admirer and sometime colleague Ben Riley, ...
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Eddie Higgins in Concert in Tequesta, Florida, February 11
Source:
All About Jazz
Sunday, February 11, 2007, 4pm Eddie Higgins & Company
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"...Higgins' style is relaxed and swinging, with an easy delicacy about it that reminds one of Hank Jones or Bill Evans." —Herb Nolan, Down Beat "...Brilliant, fully developed piano sets... plays piano with a master's touch... a dazzling dynamic range." —Sam Lesner, Chicago Daily News "...Hearing this piano for the first time, you would say 'good taste and a sensitive touch.' Like Hank Jones and the late Nat 'King' Cole, he's an orderly player whether romping with the blues or delineating a tender waltz." —Owen Cordle, Raleigh News And Observer
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Eddie Higgins
Instrument: Piano
Born: February 21, 1932
Died: August 31, 2009
