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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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 - Moonlight Becomes You
2 - More Than You Know
3 - Nardis
4 - Over The Rainbow
5 - Dear Old Stockholm
6 - I Remember Clifford
7 - You And The Night And The Music
8 - If You Could See Me Now
9 - Again
10 - We Will Be Together Again
11 - Witchcraft
12 - It Never Entered My Mind
13 - Stella By Starlight
14 - Blame It On My Youth
Credits:
Bass – Jay Leonhart
Drums – Joe Ascione
Engineer – Jim Anderson
Mixed By, Mastered By – Shuji Kitamura, Tetsuo Hara
Photography By [Artist Photo] – John Abbott (7)
Photography By [Front Cover] – Jeanloup Sieff*
Piano – Eddie Higgins
Genre: Jazz
Style: Swing, Cool Jazz
Year: 2002
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