Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Eddie Higgins-piano

Eddie died the  last day of  August still playing as he had done for fifty or more years. I had the privilege of listening to him in  small clubs for the last fifteen and he was the finest musician I saw in the southern peninsula.  He sat  at  the piano as if   he was knitting,  yet improvised at will and usually maintained three  interacting phrases at all times.  No score.  He could change a tune endlessly just by varying his phenomenal touch which was emotionally  more sensitive than Oscar Peterson. 

He was listened  to best with the eyes closed where you could see the different threads  he spun  dance and swirl.  I was blessed  to  hear him play weekly with Raul Midon and  Don Wilner  on bass. Perhaps it was  coincidence  but he often played  danny boy when he saw me at a back table  late in the  night with an  espresso and cabernet.

You had to ask him,  but he would pull out  a satchel with a few of the twenty albums to which he had contributed.  His cds were not available in stores  so I   often overpaid  him since I was so  grateful to enjoy his music  in my home.  I knew  this day would  come so I'm grateful that I thought to keep some cds unopened so I could  listen to him for these years when he  will be gone.

You should check him out playing Someone to watch over me which is usually on youtube somewhere.  At the end of that song he plays Gershwin of whom he was a master. A humble generous artist who will be missed but history is just beginning for Mr. Higgins.