EDDIE HIGGINS - Great Trio Sessions
Phono 870269 ( Two CD Set )
CD One
The Eddie Higgins Trio
Tracks 1 to 11
Eddie Higgins ( pno ) Dave Poskonka ( bass ) Jack Noreen ( drs )
Recorded Illinois, September 1957
Eddie Higgins
Tracks 15 to 17
Eddie Higgins ( pno ) Richard Evans ( bass ) Marshall Thompson (drs )
Recorded Chicago, 14 November 1960
Tracks 12 to 14
Recorded Chicago, 6 June 1961
CD Two
Eddie Higgins
Tracks 2 to 4
Recorded Chicago, 14 November 1960
Track 1
Recorded Chicago, 6 June 1961
Soulero
Tracks 5 to12
Eddie Higgins ( pno ) Richard Evans ( bass ) Marshall Thompson ( drs )
Recorded Chicago, 25 August 1965
Bonus tracks 13 to 16
Eddie Higgins Quintet
Paul Serrano ( tpt ) Frank Foster ( tnr ) Eddie Higgins ( pno ) Jim Atlas ( bass ) Marshall Thompson
( drs )
Recorded Chicago, 18 November 1960
Pianist Eddie Higgins does not feature in any of the major jazz reference books which I would consider a glaring error.
He began his professional career whilst studying at the Northwestern University School of Music in Chicago and began working at some of the outstanding clubs in Chicago eventually working with his trio at the London House for twelve years working opposite many of the main stars of the day. He was a self confessed admirer of Bill Evans and eventually became friends with the pianist.
His playing is rooted in the Bop and Mainstream style and he was valued by other players as a fine accompanist.
The recordings on these two CDs include some of his earliest trio playing and find him an outstanding pianist with a brilliant harmonic approach to his playing.
His bop credentials are on display on the opening track “A Night in Tunisia” and confirms he has technique to spare.
On ballads like “Prelude to a Kiss” Eddie Higgins is respectful of the melody without being over sentimental which brings out the best in the song.
On Oscar Peterson’s “Blues For Big Scotia” it is evident he is a master of the slow burner and Peterson would have been pleased with his interpretation.
On the ballad “Little Girl Blue” the pianist starts the tune off as a waltz which is very effective before exploring the the intricacies of the song. Like the Modern Jazz Quartet’s original version of “Django” Eddie Higgins starts it off at a slow place before developing it into a light swing which owes much to John Lewis.
The five bonus tracks feature a quintet which gives the album added interest, the first track is “You Leave Me Breathless” which has good solos by the Count Basie tenor player Frank Foster and Paul Serrano on trumpet.
Eddie Higgins is an outstanding pianist who should not be overlooked and these two CDs contain his interesting earlier work, towards the end of his career he went on to record some brilliant trio albums for the Japaneese label “Venus” which are well worth seeking out but these are fine examples of his work to be going on with.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Phono 870269 ( Two CD Set )
CD One
The Eddie Higgins Trio
Tracks 1 to 11
Eddie Higgins ( pno ) Dave Poskonka ( bass ) Jack Noreen ( drs )
Recorded Illinois, September 1957
Eddie Higgins
Tracks 15 to 17
Eddie Higgins ( pno ) Richard Evans ( bass ) Marshall Thompson (drs )
Recorded Chicago, 14 November 1960
Tracks 12 to 14
Recorded Chicago, 6 June 1961
CD Two
Eddie Higgins
Tracks 2 to 4
Recorded Chicago, 14 November 1960
Track 1
Recorded Chicago, 6 June 1961
Soulero
Tracks 5 to12
Eddie Higgins ( pno ) Richard Evans ( bass ) Marshall Thompson ( drs )
Recorded Chicago, 25 August 1965
Bonus tracks 13 to 16
Eddie Higgins Quintet
Paul Serrano ( tpt ) Frank Foster ( tnr ) Eddie Higgins ( pno ) Jim Atlas ( bass ) Marshall Thompson
( drs )
Recorded Chicago, 18 November 1960
Pianist Eddie Higgins does not feature in any of the major jazz reference books which I would consider a glaring error.
He began his professional career whilst studying at the Northwestern University School of Music in Chicago and began working at some of the outstanding clubs in Chicago eventually working with his trio at the London House for twelve years working opposite many of the main stars of the day. He was a self confessed admirer of Bill Evans and eventually became friends with the pianist.
His playing is rooted in the Bop and Mainstream style and he was valued by other players as a fine accompanist.
The recordings on these two CDs include some of his earliest trio playing and find him an outstanding pianist with a brilliant harmonic approach to his playing.
His bop credentials are on display on the opening track “A Night in Tunisia” and confirms he has technique to spare.
On ballads like “Prelude to a Kiss” Eddie Higgins is respectful of the melody without being over sentimental which brings out the best in the song.
On Oscar Peterson’s “Blues For Big Scotia” it is evident he is a master of the slow burner and Peterson would have been pleased with his interpretation.
On the ballad “Little Girl Blue” the pianist starts the tune off as a waltz which is very effective before exploring the the intricacies of the song. Like the Modern Jazz Quartet’s original version of “Django” Eddie Higgins starts it off at a slow place before developing it into a light swing which owes much to John Lewis.
The five bonus tracks feature a quintet which gives the album added interest, the first track is “You Leave Me Breathless” which has good solos by the Count Basie tenor player Frank Foster and Paul Serrano on trumpet.
Eddie Higgins is an outstanding pianist who should not be overlooked and these two CDs contain his interesting earlier work, towards the end of his career he went on to record some brilliant trio albums for the Japaneese label “Venus” which are well worth seeking out but these are fine examples of his work to be going on with.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
