Bouncin' With Bartok: The Incomplete Works of Richard Twardzik

by Jack Chambers

An unflinching exploration into the short life and tragic death of a piano prodigy and composer whose small body of work left a monumental legacy.

Genres: Music

317 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 2008

Reviews

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly-researched, elegantly written biography. As fascinating for the birds-eye view of the transition from big band swing era to the bebop era, as it is for the intense examination of Twardzik’s music.
“Jazz history has kaleidoscopic motion, with the greatest players converging... then splaying outward and converging again with more intensity and in new hues.”

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a biography of jazz pianist Richard Twardzik who died at the age of 24 of a heroine overdose in 1954. During his brief life Richard played piano for Charlie Parker and also Chet Baker. A must for jazz fans.