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With his numerous albums released on Venus Records, Eddie Higgins established himself as one of Japan's most renowned jazz musicians. Higgins, who passed away in 2009, was one of those rare pianists who knew exactly where to find the best chords on the keyboard to tell the story he wanted to tell. He also knew how to cover the entire ivory landscape without hammering the keys or overdoing it. “Christmas Songs” is a truly cool Christmas album peppered with classics that comes across as upbeat and sentimental without being boring or loud. Recorded on July 7 and 8, 2004, at Avatar Studio in New York and produced by Tetsuo Hara, the album showcases Higgins' feather-light piano playing, perfectly complemented by bassist Jay Leonhart and drummer Joe Ascione.
Venus Records was founded in Japan in 1992 by Tetsuo Hara, who previously worked as a producer for RCA Victor. The prestigious label uses a special mastering process called “Hyper Magnum Sound” for the strictly limited double LP of “Christmas Songs”. The records are cut at 33 RPM and pressed on 180-gram vinyl, which produces a powerful, present sound and is highly appreciated by audiophiles worldwide. A quick note: Venus LPs are only pressed once! Once the edition is sold out, the title is removed from the catalog and will not be reissued. Collectors should therefore not wait too long to place their orders: all releases of the “Venus Masterpiece Collection” are extremely popular!
LP 1Side A:1. White Christmas2. I'll Be Home For Christmas3. Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly
Side B:1. The Christmas Waltz2. Winter Wonderland3. Sant Claus Is Coming To Town
LP 2Side C:1. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas2. The Christmas Song3. Let It Snow
Side D:1. O Little Town Of Bethlehem2. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen3. Sleight Ride