Eddie Higgins • Moonlight Becomes You

Review by Ken Dryden

Eddie Higgins fronts a quintet, with string arrangements by Dick Lieb backing him on most tracks, as he covers ten standards. The effect of this lineup invites comparisons to the George Shearing Quintet of old. Vibraphonist Joe Locke, guitarist Joe Cohn, bassist Jay Leonhart, and drummer Joe Ascione are first-rate musicians who primarily stick to supporting roles, though Cohn's tasty solo in "The Folks Who Live on the Hill" and Leonhart's call and response with the leader and Locke's dancing vibes add some variety in a brisk treatment of "If I Should Lose You." The snappy arrangement of "Have You Met Miss Jones?" showcases Higgins and Locke. The final track, "When April Comes," is an original ballad by the leader in a soft bossa nova setting. The overall effect of this recommended CD makes it perfect for late-evening listening with someone special.

https://www.allmusic.com/album/moonlight-becomes-you-mw0000331514

Biography

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.

https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/eddiehiggins

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Reseña de Ken Dryden

Eddie Higgins dirige un quinteto, con arreglos de cuerdas de Dick Lieb que lo respalda en la mayoría de los temas, ya que cubre diez estándares. El efecto de esta alineación invita a hacer comparaciones con el Quinteto George Shearing de antaño. El vibrafonista Joe Locke, el guitarrista Joe Cohn, el bajista Jay Leonhart y el baterista Joe Ascione son músicos de primera línea que se aferran principalmente a los papeles secundarios, aunque el sabroso solo de Cohn en "The Folks Who Live on the Hill" y la llamada y respuesta de Leonhart con el líder y las vibraciones bailables de Locke añaden algo de variedad en un tratamiento enérgico de "If I Should Lose You". El elegante arreglo de "¿Habéis conocido a la señorita Jones?" muestra a Higgins y Locke. El tema final, "When April Comes", es una balada original del líder en un ambiente de bossa nova. El efecto general de este CD recomendado lo hace perfecto para escuchar en la noche con alguien especial.

https://www.allmusic.com/album/moonlight-becomes-you-mw0000331514

Biografía

Nacido y criado en Nueva Inglaterra, Eddie (Haydn) Higgins comenzó su carrera profesional en Chicago, mientras estudiaba en la Escuela de Música de la Universidad de Northwestern. Durante veinte años Eddie trabajó en algunos de los clubes de jazz más conocidos de Chicago, incluyendo el Brass Rail, Preview Lounge, Blue Note, Cloister Inn y Jazz Ltd. Su trabajo más largo y memorable fue en la London House, donde dirigió el trío de la casa durante doce años, tocando frente a las mayores estrellas del jazz de los años 50 y 60, incluyendo a Stan Getz, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Errol Garner, George Shearing, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans y muchos otros.

Durante su estancia en Chicago, Eddie grabó varios álbumes bajo sus auspicios y muchos más como sideman con una amplia variedad de músicos, desde Coleman Hawkins a Wayne Shorter, Don Goldie a Freddie Hubbard, Jack Teagarden a Al Grey. La versatilidad de Eddie es bien conocida: ha apoyado a cantantes, ha trabajado en estudios como pianista y arreglista y ha trabajado en todos los medios de jazz, desde Dixieland hasta Modern Jazz.

En 1970, Eddie se mudó a Ft. Lauderdale, Florida y comenzó a pasar los inviernos en Florida y los veranos en Cape Cod, donde juega en clubes locales y disfruta de la vela y el tenis. Desde principios de los años 80, Eddie ha viajado mucho por el circuito de festivales de jazz y ha tocado frecuentemente en Europa y Japón. Sus lanzamientos en el sello japonés "Venus" le han valido el número uno en ventas de jazz en más de un álbum. En 1988, Eddie y la cantante, pianista y artista de jazz Meredith d'Ambrosio se casaron y se han convertido en un equipo popular en clubes y festivales, además de grabar para Sunnyside Records.

En los últimos años, la actividad discográfica de Eddie se ha vuelto aún más prolífica y la atención a su obra ha crecido hasta ser más ampliamente reconocida. Ha recibido elogios de Nat Hentoff y Gary Giddons. Los intentos de describir su estilo se ejemplifican con lo siguiente:

A estos homenajes, añadiría que la obra de Eddie puede ser extraordinariamente conmovedora. Escuche su tratamiento de los temas brasileños en "Speaking of Jobim" y su trabajo en solitario en el álbum "Time On My Hands", este último que logra un matrimonio casi inigualable de estilo, composición y fidelidad de audio. Uno pensaría que se está tocando en una catedral.

https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/eddiehiggins

 

  
Tracklist:
1 - What Is There To Say - 4:21
2 - Moonlight Becomes You - 4:46
3 - The Folks Who Live On The Hill - 7:38
4 - If I Should Lose You - 4:17
5 - How Deep Is The Ocean - 4:19
6 - Have You Met Miss Jones? - 4:00
7 - I'll Be Around - 6:25
8 - The Nearness Of You - 4:56
9 - Be Careful, It's My Heart - 5:10
10 - When April Comes - 4:01


Credits:
    Bass – Jay Leonhart
    Cello – Andre Emelianoff, Charles Curtis
    Conductor, Arranged By – Dick Lieb
    Drums – Joe Ascione
    Guitar – Joe Cohn
    Piano, Arranged By – Eddie Higgins
    Vibraphone – Joe Locke
    Viola – Lois Martin, Shmuel Katz
    Violin – Edith Hines, Harumi Rhodes, Svetlana Tsoneva


Notes:
Recorded at Avatar Studio in New York on August 26 and 27 , 2003.


Label: Venus Records (5) ‎– TKCV-35538
Series: Venus Hyper Magnum Sound –
Country: Japan
Released: 2003
Genre: Jazz
Style: Cool Jazz

 

 

 

 

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