| Big Head Eddie | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Ken Vandermark |
| Cover: | Big_head_Eddie_cover.jpeg |
| Released: | 1993 |
| Recorded: | February 22 & 23, 1993 |
| Studio: | Acme Recording Studio, Chicago |
| Genre: | Jazz |
| Length: | 60:52 |
| Label: | Platypus |
| Producer: | The Vandermark Quartet |
| Chronology: | Ken Vandermark |
| Next Title: | Caffeine |
| Next Year: | 1994 |
Big Head Eddie is the debut album by American jazz reedist Ken Vandermark, which was recorded in 1993 and released on Platypus.
After moving to Chicago in 1989, Vandermark performed with Hal Russell, whom he replaced in punk jazz band The Flying Luttenbachers and free jazz NRG Ensemble. The Vandermark Quartet, with guitarist Todd Colburn, bassist Kent Kessler and drummer Michael Zerang, was his first major group. Kessler was the bassist on the NRG Ensemble since 1985.[1] Big Head Eddie was Vandermark's first CD as a leader after some obscure recordings with Fourth Stream, Lombard Street and the duo with Curt Newton Concert for Jimmy Lyons, only released on cassette.[2]
In his review for AllMusic, Thom Jurek states: "This is a stunning debut, and a high sign that musically everything was about to get very interesting."
The Penguin Guide to Jazz notes that "Big Head Eddie is a nifty set of tunes, sparked by Colburn's scrawling guitar lines, lurid and alive if not quite focused yet."[3]
All compositions by Ken Vandermark except as indicated