Jazz Club Montmartre - CPH 1988 (Remastered) Michel Petrucciani

• 1 13th 06:17
• 2 She Did It Again 08:03
• 3 My Funny Valentine 11:23
• 4 In A Sentimental Mood 06:27
• 5 Mr. K.J. 08:39
• 6 One For Us 09:07
• 7 Turnaround 11:11
• 8 It's A Dance 08:33
• 9 Autumn Leaves 11:54
• 10 La Champagne 07:07
• 11 Giant Steps 12:39
• 12 Someday My Prince Will Come 04:36
• Total Runtime 01:45:56

Info for Jazz Club Montmartre - CPH 1988 (Remastered)

Storyville Records is proud to present Michel Petrucciani – Solo in Denmark. This album features French piano prodigy Michel Petrucciani in a solo recording from Silkeborg Church, 1990. MP was one of the most popular pianists in the 1990’s due to his extraordinary technique, his astounding musical outlook and extremely dynamic playing style. His music is simply timeless and magical, seemingly coming straight from his soul. As he is often quoted: “I’m not playing to your head, but to your soul. When I play, I’m like a bird flying over the landscape, and I can land anywhere.”

Recorded on June 23, 1990 at the Riverboat Jazz Festival in Silkeborg, Denmark, this album is a tour de force that leads the listener through a series of the most iconic motifs in jazz, all of which are deconstructed and transformed by an outstanding craftsman and embellished along the way by a true master. And he also allows himself to insert unexpected twists and turns that are guaranteed to make the listener smile. Pay special attention to his small rhythmic and melodic tags, little hints for the well-trained ear. They reveal a musician who never grows complacent or takes himself too seriously. Here, the totality of MP’s talents are exhibited in an intimate setting, where he stuns the crowd with his inventive and blindingly rapid playing. The music emanating from the man simply grabs everybody’s attention. Arrangements by jazz legends like Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis gets the cheeky Petrucciani treatment with his rather audacious approach to ‘established’ jazz standards. MP had the ability to effortlessly travel through the history of jazz on his piano, fascinating his audience in the process. This church concert clearly displays why MP quickly developed into a truly exceptional member of the international jazz scene.

For MP, joyful playing with the music was a necessity of life. He lived and breathed for the opportunity to show it his love and respect. And all we have to do is open our ears, mind and soul and accept the gems from a musical individualist, who has made an indelible impression on millions of jazz listeners around the world. Solo in Denmark is simply another chapter in the remarkable story of a man, who perceived himself as a servant of the music.

“This Silkeborg church recording is special. (…) One of the very best solo piano releases to arrive this year.” – **** – Stephen, Marlbank

“…an absolutely marvellous hour of music…” – London Jazz News

“This album by Michel Petrucciani (…) is not only impeccable musically, but also in sound.” – Serain, Martin Wullich

“A suspended moment full of subtleties and winks…” – Carette, FIP – Radio France

“This is an album that is a wonderful memory of a lost genius who had a blistering talent.” – Kenny, JazzViews

“Michel Petrucciani shines alone on stage (…) the most generous (…) in the uniqueness of improvisation…” – Gauthier, Jazz Magazine

“This 1990 solo concert at the Riverboat Jazz Festival (is) finding him at his apotheosis… (…) An artist worth re-visiting and appreciating.” – Harris, JazzWeekly

“…a lovely 55-minute recital…there’s ample evidence of his technical ability but also his sensitivity and avoidance of relying on technique.” – Priestley, Jazzwise

Michel Petrucciani, piano
Gary Peacock, double bass
Roy Haynes, drums

Digitally remastered

Michel Petrucciani
born 28 December 1962 in Orange, Vaucluse (France) – died 6 January 1999 in New York City, USA. He was a French jazz pianist. Michel Petrucciani was raised in an ItaloFrench musical family. His father Tony was a guitarist, and Louis his brother played bass. Philippe is his last brother. Michel was born with osteogenesis imperfecta. This is a genetic condition that causes brittle bones, and in Michel’s case, short stature. It can also be linked to pulmonary conditions. His father and brother carried him literally when he couldn’t walk on his own. He considered it a benefit in some ways, as he was able to get rid of the distractions that other boys were involved in, such as sports. He was captivated by Duke Ellington from an early age and wanted to be a pianist like him. He trained as a classical pianist for many years, but jazz was his main passion. At the age of 13, he gave his first professional concert. He was still very fragile at this stage of his life and needed to be carried to the piano. He was large and needed assistance to reach the pedals of the piano. However, his hands were not very long. However, this had its benefits: Petrucciani’s manager often tried to smuggle Petrucciani into hotels in a suitcase at the start of his career in an effort to save money. He was part of a trio that became a success at the age of 18. In 1982, he moved to the USA and encouraged Charles Lloyd to play again. With Petrucciani in his arms, Lloyd walked to Town Hall in New York City on 22 February 1985 and sat down on his piano stool. This was the beginning of a historic evening in jazz history. John Charles Jopson, the film’s director, would later recount in the reissued liner notes how the moment brought him to tears. 1986 saw Petrucciani record a live album together with Wayne Shorter, Jim Hall. He also performed with Dizzy Gillespie and other jazz musicians in the US. He was awarded a Legion d’honneur Paris in 1994. Although Bill Evans was an influence on his style, some people compare him to Keith Jarrett. He had five significant relationships on the personal side: Erlinda Montano (marriage), Eugenia (marriage), Marie Laure Roperch (the marriage lasted for three months and ended with divorce), and Isabelle Maile (with which he shares his tomb). He had a son named Alexandre with Marie Laure, who inherited his condition. Rachid Roperch was his stepson. Michel Petrucciani, who was 36 years old, died from a pulmonary disease shortly after his 36th birthday. He was buried in Paris’s Le Pere Lachaise Cemetery. A special tribute to Petrucciani was broadcast by French music channel Mezzo on 12 February 2009. This event took place ten years after Petrucciani’s death. Gabreal Franklin produced the first two American albums featuring Michel Petrucciani. 100 Hearts, a solo album featuring Michel Petrucciani, was recorded at the famed RCA Studio A on the Avenue of the Americas, New York City. The second album was a trio, recorded live at Max Gordon’s Village Vanguard club in New York City. These albums were the first to utilize digital recording technology on Mitsubishi X80 recorders. Unfortunately, the manuals were only available in Japanese. However, Franklin and Tom Arrison were able to make them work through trial and error and achieved excellent results. From Wikipedia

This album contains no booklet.