Eddie Higgins Quartet - My Foolish Heart (2014) [SACD + Hi-Res]

Eddie Higgins has been a solid bop pianist for decades, though he seems most appreciated by the folks who run the Japanese label Venus, for whom he has recorded frequently in his golden years. Joined by two-thirds of Phil Woods' longtime rhythm section (Steve Gilmore and Bill Goodwin), along with special guest Scott Hamilton on tenor sax, Higgins explores a dozen ballads, most of which have been favorites of jazz musicians longer than the pianist has been playing professionally. Higgins doesn't mind taking a back seat to Hamilton's Ben Webster-inspired tenor, though he can also wail when he chooses to do so. The snappy take of "Russian Lullaby" is a highlight, featuring all four of the musicians in turn. One can hear Higgins singing softly to himself as he introduces his lush arrangement of "Embraceable You." While there is nothing groundbreaking about any of the selections, this is excellent music that will provide a perfect backdrop for any jazz fan's romantic evening. -- Ken Dryden