Brash
Chet Baker - Trumpet
Dick Twardzik - Piano
Jimmy Bond - Bass
Peter Littman - Drums
There is a particular sadness attached to this recording. In September 1955, Chet Baker set off from the USA with three other musicians for a
projected four month tour of Europe. Russ Freeman, his pianist of choice, had made the decision not to go. Both of them, however, had been
impressed by a young pianist named Dick Twardzik. For Chet, he was the obvious replacement for Freeman. Twardzik had only made one recording as a
leader (with his trio) at this point but clearly had immense promise. This album was recorded in Paris on the eleventh and fourteenth of October
1955. It was to be Twardzik's last. By the twenty-first of that month, he was dead, the result of a heroin overdose, probably accidental. He was 24
years old and had made only six recorded performances.
Released by Barclay Records originally, the disc received warm reviews at the time. Baker and Twardzik's fellow musicians were a 22 year old bass
player, fresh from Juilliard, Jimmy Bond, and drummer Peter Littman, another youthful recruit who had previously played with Herb Pomeroy and
Charlie Mariano. The music is low-key, late-night chamber jazz. The compositions are all, bar one, by Bob Zieff, a young composer of the time about
whom Baker endorsed enthusiastically (these days, Zieff is a Jazz DJ). Several tracks catch the attention. Rondette, for instance, has
Chet at his most impeccably lyrical, with Dick Twardzik offering hints of Monk, as Littman propels the whole piece along. Piece Caprice,
meanwhile, is a work of gentle subtlety from Baker while Twardzik proves to be a quirky minimalist on piano. As pretty well everywhere on the disc,
Jimmy Bond gives solid support, as indeed does Peter Littman. Pomp is sombre sounding, providing scope for Chet's probing trumpet and
Twardzik's inventive solo. The Girl From Greenland is a Twardzik original and has a jaunty feel about it. Both the composer and Baker
contribute expansive solos.
The disc as a whole has been a privilege to review as well as a pleasure to hear. The only reservation I have is that a change of mood from time to
time might have been helpful. There is, of course, the poignancy of knowing that Dick Twardzik's life was to come to an end prematurely in a matter
of a few days and that a rare talent was lost to jazz in consequence. It is said that Chet Baker was deeply affected by the tragedy and carried
that with him always. The trip to Europe that was scheduled to last four months turned out to be eight months away from home. I'm glad we have this
reissue and the music on it, to remind us of a hopeful beginning which, sadly, was quickly to unwind.
James Poore
CD Reviews
