Search - Russ Freeman, Richard Twardzik :: Trio - Russ Freeman/Richard Twardzik

Rare Piece of Modern Jazz History

George G. Kiefer | Sevierville, TN United States | 03/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When Chet Baker toured Europe in the mid-fifties, he took with him a piano player of unique ability and vision. During that tour, Richard Twardzyk died, depriving us of his playing and his distinctive and visionary composing skills. "Albuquerque Social Swim", "Yellow Tango" and "A Crutch For The Crab" are three of his original compositions. Listening to them, it is difficult to realize that they were written, arraigned and recorded almost a half century ago. It was then that I heard them on a vinyl LP.In spite of the rather high cost, this CD is well worth it. I would have gladly paid that much and more merely to have these three selections in my library."

Rediscovery of an old friend

Stirling Rasmussen | Lincoln, Virginia USA | 03/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In college in the early '60s I had a jazz show amd fell in love with Twardzik's quirky, almost Monk-like playing. In the years since I'd lost the vinyl copy of Trio, so getting the CD was like discovering a long-lost friend. Twardzik is as great as my memory had him, but what I'd not paid attention to at the time was Russ Freeman's work on the album. This is swinging, West Coast jazz at it's best, and Freeman has some of the same almost atonal approaches to playing as Twardzik. And the real kicker here is that on the original vinyl he had 6 cuts. On the CD he has 14. I recommend this CD strongly.Sadly, other than a few cuts on Baker's Paris recordings of 1956 and his album, 'Chet Baker in Europe', which I've not been able to locate anywhere, Twardzik has not left much of his unique piano work for us. A heroin overdose while touring with Baker in Europe cut short his brilliance when he was 25. So invest a bit and capture for yourself his unique sound."