Dave O'Higgins: Standards
Author: Andy Robson
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Musicians: |
Billy Higgins (d) |
Label: |
Fresh Sound |
Magazine Review Date: |
April/2017 |
Catalogue Number: |
FSR-CD916 |
RecordDate: |
7-8 March 1988 |
Sometimes you just need a hit to the soul: and O'Higgins delivers in spades with a collection that is just what it says on the tin, a set of standards, unadorned, unfussy and unapologetically straight-ahead. The artwork may suggest a Blue Note influence, but the twist on the set is that these are songs largely associated with Ol’ Blue Eyes. O'Higgins played Sinatra's last London gigs in 1992, but there's nothing nostalgic in O'Higgins' readings; his years in partnership with the tough but tender Eric Alexander erased any over emoting from O'Higgins' performances long ago. Instead he dashes and swings through the likes of ‘Wives And Lovers’ as though the songs are freshly written and new to him. It helps that he has the likes of Aspland on board, so accomplished at accompanying singers and here as unpushy but lyrical as ever, notably laying down a deliriously romantic shape to ‘Guess I'll Hang Out My Tears To Die’. De Krom is likewise in his element, and has a ball on ‘Close Your Eyes’. With a host of new releases to follow this year, O'Higgins continues not only to follow the Great Tradition but also to augment it.

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