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.
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.
