“I think you will find it advantageous to give these performances repeated listening. His facile imagination demands close attention. Dick Twardzik said of his own playing: 'Development is not my primary consideration. The ability to project ever-changing emotions or moods, plus rhythmic freedom, is far more important to me.' - Russ Freeman, 1956, original liner notes"
This set reinstates a number of important piano recordings made for Pacific Jazz (and in the case of Jimmy Rowles Liberty). Russ Freeman and Rowles were seminal to so much of the important music that emanated from Los Angeles in the '50s and '60s that their achievements would be far too many to list here. Freeman's hard swinging style is featured on 14 tracks made between 1952 and '57. Rowles, an encyclopedic piano maestro, is represented by his rare Liberty album Rare - But Well Done and two Pacific Jazz tracks, made the end of sessions by others.
Richard Twardzik was a startlingly original pianist/composer on the Boston scene in the early '50s. Russ Freeman heard him there and convinced Pacific Jazz to record him. Ironically when he died of an overdose in Paris on October 21, 1955, he was Russ's replacement in the Chet Baker quartet. These seven trio selections represent the only music he recorded professionally as a leader.
Clare Fischer, the only living pianist represented on this set, is best known for his brilliant writing. His abilities as a commanding, inventive jazz pianist have taken a back seat to other achievements. His first two albums, included here, are marvelous trio sessions that feature three of the greatest bassists on the LA scene at the time: Gary Peacock, Ralph Pena and Albert Stinson. Clare consented to the release of three unreleased tunes from these sessions.
3 CDs - $39.00
Limited Edition: 5000 copies
For more information contact All About Jazz.
