Pianist Eddie Higgins may not be well known in the US, but he is hands down the most famous and prolific musician on the Venus Records roster. Since his 1997 Venus debut, Higgins has released more than 20 albums from the label.

Standards by Request – 1st Day and 2nd Day are a pair of solo piano albums that include a collection of standards requested by readers of Swing Journal. Forty of the top requests were given to Higgins and the plan was to record material for only one album. However, after recording 15 tracks on the first day—an extraordinary feat in itself—Higgins wanted to continue. So another recording took place the next day where Higgins recorded another 15 tracks.

The tracks on this release are presented in the order they were recorded. No music sheets were involved. Higgins is so talented as a pianist that his own arranging and pacing of tunes—as well as its spontaneous arrangement—were highly successful. The producer didn’t feel the need to change a thing.

Standards by Request – 1st Day shows why Higgins is such a popular artist. It’s all here—the beautiful sound, exquisite touch, stylish swing, and harmonious improvisation. Sit back and enjoy the work of a master!