in East Asia including Japan and South Korea. During his career in East Asia, Higgins formed a successful trio with Joe Ascione (drums), and Jay Leonhart (bass). In 1988, Higgins and jazz singer and pianist Meredith d'Ambrosio were married and became a popular team at clubs and festivals, as well as recording for Sunnyside Records. In 2009, dates in Japan and Korea were on his calendar of upcoming concerts, but were suspended due to a long illness. Higgins died on August 31, 2009 of lung and lymphatic cancer in Fort Lauderdale at the age of 77. Style Eddie Higgins's delicate tone and conception were often compared to those of Bill Evans, one of the most influential and successful jazz pianists. He mostly played bop and mainstream jazz music throughout his career. Higgins was at home playing melodies with swing-like feeling. His melodies had groove and swing-feeling without being superfluous. Such swing-feeling of Eddie Higgins was also often compared to those of Oscar Peterson and Nat King Cole. Accomplishment In 2009, Eddie Higgins received Jazz Disc Award from the most respected jazz magazine in Japan, Swing Journal. With his album, Portraits of Love, Higgins won the Best Album of the Year. In the same year, Higgins received another award from Best Engineering Album of the Year. Discography As leader Source: Compilations Relaxin' at the Lounge (Venus) Standard Higgins (Venus) Ballad Higgins (Venus) Tenderly: The Best of Eddie Higgins (Venus) Source: As sideman With Paul Severson 1957 Jazz (Replica) 1957 Misty Island/Please Love Me (Altair) With Meredith d'Ambrosio 1989 South to a Warmer Place 1991 Love Is Not a Game 1993 Shadowland 1995 Beware of Spring! 2001 Love Is for the Birds With Wayne Shorter 1962 Wayning Moments 2002 All or Nothing at All 2013 Beginnings With Lee Morgan 1960 Expoobident 2002 Just in Time With Sonny Stitt 2000 Sonny, Sweets, and Jaws: Live at Bubba's 2001 No Greater Love 2004 Just Friends: Live at Bubba's Jazz Restaurant 1981 With Warren Vaché 1999 Mrs. Vache's Boys 2007 Remember With Chuck Hedges 1992 No Greater Love 2001 Just for Fun With others 1957 This Is Lucy Reed, Lucy Reed 1959 Touff Assignment, Cy Touff 1961 Brilliant, Don Goldie 1961 The Thinking Man’s Trombone Al Grey 1963 Sextet in Person, Jack Teagarden 1985 The Great Fontana, Carl Fontana 1992 The Wonderful World of George Gershwin, George Masso 1996 A Time for Love, John Doughten