First Time Out (album)

First Time Out
Studio album by Clare Fischer
Released 1962
Recorded at Pacific Jazz Studios
Genre Jazz
Label Pacific Jazz
PJ 52
Producer Richard Bock
Clare Fischer chronology
Jazz
(1961)		 First Time Out
(1962)		 Bossa Nova Jazz Samba
(1962)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Atlanta Daily Worldfavorable[2]
Audiofavorable[3]
Down Beat[4]
Gramophone"superlative"[5]
Mademoisellefavorable[6]
Saturday Reviewfavorable[7]
External audio
You may listen to "Toddler" here

First Time Out is the debut album by American composer/arranger/keyboardist Clare Fischer,[lower-alpha 1] recorded and released in 1962 by Pacific Jazz Records.[9]

Reception

Aside from the overwhelmingly positive response that greeted Fischer's debut, the most pervasive reaction was sheer surprise; indeed, Down Beat's 5-star review dubbed it "the biggest surprise of the year."[4] As jazz historian and critic Martin Williams observes, writing in The Saturday Review:

First Time Out is from a rather unexpected source: it is a recital by a piano trio, led by Clare Fischer, a man previously known for his arranging and composing. Fischer's piano is not 'interesting,' as an arranger's piano is apt to be. It is much more accomplished than that."[7]

While struggling to pinpoint Fischer's pianistic forbears, finding elements of both Bill Evans and Dodo Marmarosa, critic Leonard Feather echoes Williams' essential point, noting Fischer's "complete command of the keyboard; unlike Gil Evans, Tadd Dameron, and other arrangers who are secondarily pianists, he can be judged entirely by a pianistic yardstick."[10]

Gramophone's review praises "this superlative album," in part for preventing Fischer from "becoming one of the most neglected figures in jazz."[5] The Atlanta Daily World's Albert Anderson stops short of such hyperbole, but does acknowledge his own surprise:

I knew well before reviewing this record that Fischer was a composer of note. What I didn't know, though, was that he is such an outstanding pianist. However, after listening to these tracks (five of which are Fischer originals), I was tremendously impressed by his facility with a tune - He plays with mastery, melody and perhaps, too, with his audience in mind. The latter is suggested clearly in shifting moods and tempos; there is never a dull moment.[2]

Track listing

All compositions by Clare Fischer except where noted.

Side 1

  1. "Nigerian Walk" (Ed Shaughnessy) - 7:02
  2. "Toddler" - 4:40
  3. "Stranger" (Gary Peacock) - 4:00
  4. "Afterfact" - 4:06

Side 2

  1. "Free Too Long" - 7:30
  2. "Piece for Scotty" - 3:13
  3. "Blues for Home" - 5:09
  4. "I Love You" (Cole Porter) - 5:13

Personnel

Notes

  1. ↑ Fischer actually recorded an album prior to this, the previous year, while in Mexico with the Hi-Lo's, but it was not released until later, and with little fanfare even then.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Clare Fischer: First Time Out (Overview)". All Music. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  2. 1 2 Anderson, Albert. "Week in Records: Strictly Jazz". The Atlanta Daily World. October 23, 1962. Retrieved 2013-03-12 via Proquest.
  3. ↑ Audio. Volume 47. 1963. page 68. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  4. 1 2 "First Time Out" cover image. 'CD and LP. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  5. 1 2 "1962 Review". Gramophone. Volume 41. 1962. Part 1 & Part 2 Retrieved 2013-02-22.
  6. ↑ "1962 Review". Mademoiselle. Volume 56. 1962. Retrieved 2013-02-22.
  7. 1 2 Williams, Martin. "Pianists With Fortes". The Saturday Review. Volume 46. January 26, 1963. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  8. ↑ "'Charity Begins at the Tax Collector's". Downbeat. Volume 28. 1961. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  9. ↑ "First Time Out" LOC online. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  10. ↑ Leonard Feather's liner notes for Surging Ahead. livedoor Blog. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
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