Gérard Gustin, born in Nice in 1930, initially trained in violin but soon found his true passion in the piano, particularly in the realm of jazz. His musical journey was shaped by encounters with notable musicians along the way. By 1955, Gustin’s talent caught the attention of Parisian audiences, and his trio performances solidified his reputation as one of the finest French pianists of his generation.
During this pivotal period, Gustin crossed paths with Chet Baker, leading to a memorable collaboration on the trumpeter’s second album for the Barclay label. This partnership showcased Gustin’s exceptional piano skills, revealing a distinctive musical language influenced by jazz luminaries like Horace Silver and George Wallington, yet marked by his own unique flair and creativity.
In January 1956, Barclay took a significant step in recognizing Gustin’s talent by recording him for a debut 10-inch album. Leading a trio with guitarist Sacha Distel and bassist Gilbert Gassin, Gustin’s compositions and performances highlighted his innate abilities as both a pianist and a composer.
As Gustin shifted towards popular music and embraced theworld of show business, his jazz legacy began to fade into the background. Despite his undeniable talent, he didn’t attain the same level of recognition in jazz circles as some of his peers. Nevertheless, Gérard Gustin stayed committed to his musical craft until his passing in 1994, leaving behind a rich and varied musical legacy that resonated across multiple generations. *Jordi Pujol*
Gérard Gustin Trio
And
The Chet Baker Quartet with Gérard Gustin
Gérard Gustin isn't very well known by American jazz fans. The French jazz pianist is best known for accompanying Chet Baker on the second Chet Baker Quartet album for the French Barclay album while Baker was in Paris in October of 1955. Now Fresh Sound records has combined that album with Trio Gérard Gustin for Barclay in 1956, on a remastered release.
Gustin wasn't as well known as many other French 1950s jazz pianists such as Martial Solal, René Urtreger, Antoine Hervé, Eddy Louiss and Henri Renaud, but that was largely due to his brief jazz career.
A student at the Nice Conservatory after World War II, Gustin fell in love with jazz after hearing records by Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Bud Powell. By 1949 and '50, he was gigging on the French Riviera. He went into the French Army in the early 1950s.
Stationed in Marseilles for 18 months, he performed in clubs nightly and became friendly with many French jazz musicians in the city. Throughout the early 1950s Gustin went where there was work in France. In March 1955, he settled in Paris, where he worked and met Chet Baker, who asked him to record with him on his second 12-inch Barclay LP.
The following year, Eddy Barclay decided to record Gustin with his trio on a 10-inch LP. The group featured Sacha Distel on guitar and Gilbert Gassin on bass. Nearly two years passed before the album was released, in the fall of 1957. By then, jazz was no longer a career path for Gustin. Instead, he leaned into French pop by playing piano for three years in Aimé Barelli's orchestra, which accompanied many marquee U.S. pop singers on tour in Paris.
From 1963 to 1971, Gustin collaborated with Sacha Distel, who by then had put down his guitar for a successful singing and hosting career. Gustin accompanied Distel on tours and was the musical director of Distel's weekly television program, Le Sacha Show. He also composed upward of 450 French songs.
Gustin had an interesting way of opening many songs on his trio album with a classical baroque approach before springing into swing. He also had a nice touch with Baker.
Gérard Gustin died in May 1994. *Marc Myers*
1 - Y'a Qu'ça De Vraie
(Gerard Gustin)
2 - Autumn In New York
(Vernon Duke)
3 - Equation
(Gérard Gustin)
4 - Lover Man
(Davis, Ramirez, Sherman)
5 - For You, For Me, For Evermore
(George Gershwin)
6 - There's A Small Hotel
(Rodgers, Hart)
7 - "Greek" Gone Crazy
(Gérard Gustin)
8 - These Foolish Things
(Strachey, Link, Marvell)
9 - Lookin' For A Boy
(George Gershwin)
10 - I'll Remember April
(Raye, de Paul, Johnston)
11 - Romano's Dilemma
(Gérard Gustin)
12 - Summertime
(Gershwin, Heyward)
13 - Autumn Nocturne
(Joseph Myrow)
14 - You Go To My Head
(Coots, Gillespie)
15 - Somebody Loves Me
(George Gershwin)
16 - Tenderly
(Gross, Lawrence)
Trio Gérard Gustin
#1, #3, #5, #7, #9, #11, #13, # 15, from the album Trio Gérard Gustin (Barclay 84.041)
Gérard Gustin (piano), Sacha Distel (guitar), Gilbert Gassin (bass).
Recorded at Pathé-Magellan Studio, Paris, January 1956.
Gérard Gustin with The Chet Baker Quartet
#2, #4, #6, #8, #10, #12, #14, #16, from the album Chet Baker Quartet (Barclay 84.017)
Chet Baker (trumpet), Gérard Gustin (piano),
Jimmy Bond (bass), Nils-Bertil "Bert" Dahlander (drums).
Recorded at Pathé-Magellan Studio, Paris, October 24, 1955.
