Album Notes

Chuck Hedges: Clarinet, Eddie Higgins: Piano
Bob Haggart: Bass, Gene Estes: Drums

Commentary by Eddie Higgins

On a warm, humid afternoon in December, 1992, a group of veteran jazz musicians gathered in Orlando, Florida to make a recording. Although all of them were friends and had worked together in various combinations before, this would be their first time in a recording studio as a quartet, and the producer was anxiously awaiting the first sign that his hunch was correct: that these four would work smoothly together and be able to strike the sparks of inspiration that distinguish a truly memorable recording date from one that merely goes through the motions. He didn't have long to wait: from the first take it was obvious that the rhythm section was compatible and there would be no time wasted in getting to the heart of the matter.

The first tune illustrates perfectly this chemistry: "There Is No Greater Love" has been a musicians' favorite since it was written by Isham Jones in 1936. Bob Haggart has been an admired bass player since the mid-30's, and he and Gene Estes (drums) and I (piano) felt perfectly at ease with this time-honored standard. Chuck Hedges, on clarinet, is also no stranger to fine tunes (he picked all the material for this session) and the result was an inspired performance: swinging, fluid and articulate.