Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Recorded in Paris in 1955, this Barclay reissue features trumpeter Chet Baker in quartet with Boston-area piano prodigy Dick Twardzik, bassist Jimmy Bond, and drummer Peter Littman. In the United States, these tracks (all composed by Bob Zieff) were paired with several other jazz standards (not included here) on Baker's 1955 album, Chet Baker in Europe. This release, however, features the original track list (and album cover art) focusing solely on the Zieff compositions. A classically trained composer with a bent toward an angular, third-stream style, Zieff had been one of Twardzik's teachers, and it was Twardzik who introduced Baker to Zieff's compositions. A supremely gifted musician, Twardzik had made his professional debut at the age of 14, and was only 24 years old when he joined Baker on tour. Also classically trained, Twardzik had a sophisticated approach to jazz that combined the technical skill of Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, with an ear toward the complex harmonies of modernist composers like Béla Bartók and Igor Stravinsky. Although generally regarded at the time as a lyrical, emotionally direct musician who purportedly couldn't read music and instead played by "ear," Baker immediately connected with Zieff's music. It's fascinating to hear him bring the same raw emotion and romantic yearning that he brought to a standard like "My Funny Valentine, " to Zieff's spare, often arch compositions. Cuts like "Sad Walk," "Just Duo," and "Brash," are sweetly lyrical and swinging, yet shaded with harmonies that are noir-ish in tone. Elsewhere, "Piece Caprice," has a lilting, waltz-like quality that brings to mind the similarly inclined work of the Dave Brubeck Quartet with saxophonist Paul Desmond. Sadly, Twardzik died of a heroin overdose just over a week after this recording session; a tragedy that cut short a promising career and marked the beginning of Baker's own decline into addiction. Due to licensing restrictions, the album fell out of print in the U.S. and Zieff never fully achieved wider recognition. Nonetheless, these are some of the most distinctive and unusual of Baker's early career recordings.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From kr133.33/month
Chet Baker, MainArtist - Richard Twardzik, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Zieff, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1956 Decca Records France
Chet Baker, MainArtist - Richard Twardzik, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Zieff, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1956 Decca Records France
Jimmy Bond, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - Chet Baker, MainArtist - Peter Littman, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Twardzik, Composer
℗ 1956 Decca Records France
Chet Baker, MainArtist - Richard Twardzik, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Zieff, Composer
℗ 1956 Decca Records France
Jimmy Bond, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - Chet Baker, MainArtist - Peter Littman, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Twardzik, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Zieff, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1956 Decca Records France
Jimmy Bond, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - Chet Baker, MainArtist - Peter Littman, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Twardzik, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Zieff, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1956 Decca Records France
Chet Baker, MainArtist - Richard Twardzik, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Zieff, Composer
℗ 1956 Decca Records France
Chet Baker, MainArtist - Richard Twardzik, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Zieff, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1956 Decca Records France
Jimmy Bond, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - Chet Baker, MainArtist - Peter Littman, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Twardzik, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Zieff, Composer
℗ 1956 Decca Records France
Album review
Recorded in Paris in 1955, this Barclay reissue features trumpeter Chet Baker in quartet with Boston-area piano prodigy Dick Twardzik, bassist Jimmy Bond, and drummer Peter Littman. In the United States, these tracks (all composed by Bob Zieff) were paired with several other jazz standards (not included here) on Baker's 1955 album, Chet Baker in Europe. This release, however, features the original track list (and album cover art) focusing solely on the Zieff compositions. A classically trained composer with a bent toward an angular, third-stream style, Zieff had been one of Twardzik's teachers, and it was Twardzik who introduced Baker to Zieff's compositions. A supremely gifted musician, Twardzik had made his professional debut at the age of 14, and was only 24 years old when he joined Baker on tour. Also classically trained, Twardzik had a sophisticated approach to jazz that combined the technical skill of Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, with an ear toward the complex harmonies of modernist composers like Béla Bartók and Igor Stravinsky. Although generally regarded at the time as a lyrical, emotionally direct musician who purportedly couldn't read music and instead played by "ear," Baker immediately connected with Zieff's music. It's fascinating to hear him bring the same raw emotion and romantic yearning that he brought to a standard like "My Funny Valentine, " to Zieff's spare, often arch compositions. Cuts like "Sad Walk," "Just Duo," and "Brash," are sweetly lyrical and swinging, yet shaded with harmonies that are noir-ish in tone. Elsewhere, "Piece Caprice," has a lilting, waltz-like quality that brings to mind the similarly inclined work of the Dave Brubeck Quartet with saxophonist Paul Desmond. Sadly, Twardzik died of a heroin overdose just over a week after this recording session; a tragedy that cut short a promising career and marked the beginning of Baker's own decline into addiction. Due to licensing restrictions, the album fell out of print in the U.S. and Zieff never fully achieved wider recognition. Nonetheless, these are some of the most distinctive and unusual of Baker's early career recordings.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 9 track(s)
- Total length: 00:39:39
- Main artists: Chet Baker
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Universal Music Division Decca Records France
- Genre: Jazz
© 2003 Universal Music Jazz France This Compilation ℗ 2003 Decca Records France
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.