Eddie Heywood was jazz pianist who was primarily active through the 1940s and ‘50s and who was not only highly regarded by his peers in the jazz world but also recorded mainstream middle-of the-road instrumental pop and had three significant hits during the 1950s, including a No. 2 with “California Sunset” with Hugo Winterhalter in 1956. This great-value 46-track 2-CD set comprises recordings from across two decades, released on the Vocalion, Okeh, Signature, Commodore, Decca, RCA-Victor, London, Columbia, MGM and Mercury labels during this era. They include performances as a member of bands led by Coleman Hawkins and Barney Bigard, as well as with vocal group The Quintones, and then both as a solo artist and with his own line-ups in trio, small group, big band and orchestral settings, and including recordings accompanying Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.

Among the artists featured in the various bands are Buck Clayton, Benny Carter, Lester Young, Oscar Pettiford, Shelly Manne, Johnny Hodges, Doc Cheatham, Don Byas, Sidney Catlett and many more. The collection includes his No. 2 hit “California Sunset” as well as his other chart entries “Land Of Dreams”, also with Hugo Winterhalter, and “Soft Summer Breeze”. It’s a thoroughly absorbing and entertaining collection which provides a varied and fascinating showcase for his remarkable talent in being able to thrive across a spectrum of jazz and pop contexts.

REVIEWS

"As the excellent (as usual) liner notes state, it would be very easy to dismiss Eddie Heywood as a jazz pianist who had a couple of hits in the 50s including Canadian Sunset, and for many that would be all that needed to said. However, that would be doing him a gross injustice and this two disc set with 46 tracks shows exactly why there was so much more to his career. While no one would claim that Heywood was in any way a pioneer or an innovator his contribution over many decades as a jazz pianist who worked with the very best is never in question, and this compilation is a timely reminder of a musician worthy of more than just a footnote in the history of popular music."  –  Gerry Stonestreet (In Tune Issue 343)

"...a good introduction into the music of Eddie Heywood, even for those not keen on the later material, as the early small swing group sides are very good." – Matthew Wright (Jazz Journal December 2020)

"Engaging, always tuneful and there are some real gems here." – Peter Vacher (Jazz Rag Issue 165)

"From the get-go this looked like a fabulous compilation to this reviewer and as soon as it hit the CD player it proved so. We are treated to 46 performances (over two CDs) by the cream of 1940s/50s  Jazz Giants, the majority of tunes are old favourites and/or ones that regularly appear in 'Great American Songbook' compilations, but don't be put off by this sweeping remark. It is a well thought out compilation. If your tastes lie in the music of the war years and after and you have a romantic bent you will love this set, available from the online behemoth for under a tenner, it is a bargain and one that will feature regularly on my play list! A word of praise too for Acrobat Music who continue to give us such superb recordings at a bargain price, long may they prosper."  –  Clive Fleckner (Jazzviews September 2020)

"This is an excellent value, 46-tack CD, double CD set, which comprises recordings from across two decades. A thoroughly absorbing and entertaining collection which provides a varied and fascinating showcase for his remarkable talent in being able to thrive across a spectrum of jazz and pop contexts." – Pete Lay (Just Jazz Issue 271)