Eddie Costa

Edwin James "Eddie" Costa (August 14, 1930 – July 28, 1962) was an American jazz pianist and vibraphonist born in Atlas, Pennsylvania, near Mount Carmel, in Northumberland County. He became known for his percussive, driving piano style that concentrated on the lower octaves of the keyboard. He acquired the nickname "The Bear" from bassist Vinnie Burke for his powerful playing. Costa died, aged 31, in a car accident in New York. His loss to the music was summarized years later in the liner notes to one of his recordings: "No pianist with his combination of strength, humor, and drive has developed in the sixties or seventies, and as the years go by it becomes more apparent that we lost a unique creative musician".

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