Jazz
Recorded: Studio Davout, Paris, France; Petit Jouranl Montparnasse, Paris, France; Maison De La Danse, Lyon, France (1992); Palais De Sports, Paris, France (1994); Right Track Studio, New York, New York (1997); Public Au Theatre Des Champs-Elysees, Paris, France (1997); Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Germany (1997)
Disc 1-13: CD
Disc 3-8, 11-12: Live
Disc 13-14: DVD
Michel Petrucciani (piano)
Tony Petrucciani, Bireli Lagrene (guitar); Pierre Lemarchand, Vincent Pagliarin, Stephane Grappelli, Nicolas Krassik (violin); Vincent Courtois (cello); Kenny Garrett, Stefano Di Battista (saxophone); Flavio Boltro (trumpet); Bob Brookmeyer (trombone); Eddy Louiss (Hammond b-3 organ); Dave Holland, George Mraz (upright bass); Marcus Miller, Anthony Jackson (bass guitar); Lenny White, Roy Haynes, Steve Gadd, Tony Williams (drums)
Michel Petrucciani
Active Decades: '70s, '80s and '90s
Born: Dec 28, 1962 in Orange, France
Died: Jan 06, 1999 in New York City (Manhattan), New Yo
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Post-Bop, Contemporary Jazz, Mainstream Jazz
Michel Petrucciani overcame the effects of osteogenensis imperfecta (a bone disease that greatly stunted his growth) to become a powerful pianist. Originally greatly influenced by Bill Evans and to a lesser extent Keith Jarrett, Petrucciani developed his own individual voice. He started by playing in the family band with his guitarist father and bassist brother. At the age of 15 he had the opportunity to play with Kenny Clarke and Clark Terry, and at 17 he made his first recording. Petrucciani toured France with Lee Konitz in a duo (1980) and moved to the U.S. in 1982. At that time he coaxed Charles Lloyd out of retirement and toured with his quartet, a mutually beneficial relationship. Petrucciani was a strong attraction in the U.S., usually playing with a quartet (sometimes featuring Adam Holzman's synthesizer for color) or as a soloist; in 1986 he recorded at Montreux with Jim Hall and Wayne Shorter. Although Petrucciani's ability to overcome his affliction was admirable, his impressive playing stood by itself; he died of a pulmonary infection on January 6, 1999.
---Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
