The tragic story of Richard Twardzik, the pianist and composer of jazz, is one of the most enduring. A gifted and original Bop pianist at the height of his international fame, he was just 24 when he overdosed on heroin. Twardzik, a classically trained child prodigy, was born in Danvers, MA on April 30, 1931. He studied under Madame Chaloff (the mother of Serge Chaloff), and began his professional career as a Boston nightclub DJ at the age of 14. He later went to the New England Conservatory. He developed a heroin addiction while still in his teens. Twardzik recorded his debut on the December 1951 sessions, which produced alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano and the Boston All Stars. The following spring, he performed on a Serge Chaloff date and, in late 1952, he accompanied Charlie Parker on an extended tour through the eastern Massachusetts region. Performances later documented on releases such as The Happy Bird or Boston 1952. Twardzik’s knowledge of classical harmony, orchestral sensibilities, and his playing infused with an uncommon complexity and imagination. His reputation as a performer, composer, and musician grew, in large part due to his work on Chaloff’s 1954 date The Fable of Mabel. The remarkable Trio, featuring Russ Freeman as Chet Baker Quartet piano and Carson Smith as bassist and Peter Littman as drummer, was recorded at Rudy Van Gelder’s Hackensack studio in NJ on October 27, 1954. It remained unissued for more than a year. Baker suggested a long European tour in 1955. His sidemen refused. However, Freeman recommended Twardzik to replace him. Baker accepted, adding Twardzik to the revamped line-up that also included Littman as drummer and Bond as bassist. Twardzik also had heroin addiction and his habit only got worse. Twardzik overdosed at least once per show, but he still pulled together for an exceptional October 11 performance at Paris’ Studio Pathe-Magellan. This was later released by Barclay Records under the name Chet in Paris. The quartet returned three days later to record the World Pacific release Chet Bakker in Europe. This was Twardzik’s last studio session. Twardzik’s final live appearance was at Paris’ Club Tabu on October 20, where he made a Stuttgart appearance with Lars Gullin, a Swedish baritone saxophonist. Baker dispatched Littman to inspect their hotel after the pianist failed to appear for rehearsal on the following day. Twardzik was found dead in his room with the needle in his arm by the drummer. Baker wasn’t yet a complete-blown junkie when Twardzik died. However, there are rumors that Baker fled the hotel room in fear. Given the mystery surrounding Baker’s 1988 death, it is unlikely that the official chronology of Twardzik’s final hours will ever come to light. Trio was finally released by Pacific Jazz as half of a release with Freeman in late 1956. A few other recordings have trickled onto the market over the years. Allmusic
