Virtually unknown these days, pianist Eddie Heywood (1915-89) led a group of small bands in the 40s up through the 50s, and during the Swing Era put out some of the most sublime sounds you’ll ever encounter, as this two disc set confirms.
Tasty and sophisticated, he was the leader of the small “orchestra” that backed Billie Holiday for her famed Commodore recordings that included Lester Young/ts, Doc Cheatham/tp and Vic Dickenson/tb, and Lady Day never sounded more joyful than her, giving definitive reads of “I’ll Get By,” “On the Sunny Side of the Street” and “Let’s Do It”. There’s also a fantastic one-off with Ella Fitzgerald on a luscious “Laura” and a cute Boswell Sister-ish vocal ditty with The Quintones along with Buck Clayton/tp, Benny Carter/as and Coleman Hawkins on a swinging “Midnight Jamboree”.
Speaking of Hawkins, he sizzles with Heywood, Oscar Pettiford/b and Shelly Manne/dr for a torrid “Crazy Rhythm.” Ellingtonian Johnny Hodges swoons on a trio setting with Heywood and Manne on ”Night and Day” and Flamingo” while Ray Nance doubles on trumpet and violin joined by tenorist Don Byas on a hep “How High The Moon” and clarinetist Barney Bigard dances around “Step Steps Up”
Heywood himself is a joy at the ivories, mixing Lisztian excursions and bop to “Blue Lou” while giving Latin Lover reads to “The Carioca” and “Begin the Beguine”. In small groups with Dickenson and Cheatham, his is bubbly on ditties like “Coquette” His trio work on “All The Things You Are” show strident allegiances, while his later fifties recordings such as “ Whispering Wind” and “Canadian Sunset” are more orchestrated and changing with the more polished times. Still, this collection is a toe tapping treat, ignore it at your peril!