Record Reviews

MICHEL PETRUCCIANI ~ SOLO IN DENMARK STORYVILLE 8495 (Barcode: 717101849529) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz Recorded: 1990 Released: 2022 This is an archival live solo piano album by the French Jazz pianist / composer Michel PetruccianiFind albums by this artist, recorded on June 23 1990 at the Riverboat Jazz Festival in Denmark. The album presents seven tracks, the last of which is a medley of six tunes. Two of the tracks are original compositions by Petrucciani and the rest are standards, which he superbly arranged. The sound quality of the recording is absolutely perfect. Petrucciani was undoubtedly one of the greatest European Jazz pianists and his unique talent was instantly evident from the moment he arrived on the scene. His hereditary illness and fragile body was a tremendous challenge, but did not stop him playing marvelously and recording quite a few superb albums. His interpretations of standards were always brilliantly artistic and sensitive and seeing him performing was absolutely phenomenal. I had the honor / privilege of carrying his tiny body on and off the stage during some of his performances that I attended, a memory I will always cherish. Petrucciani was a virtuoso, but his technical skills never robbed him of sensitivity, which was always his great forte. The typical French finesse and a sublime sense of melody allowed him to play around with the notes / chords at will and whichever key he stroke at any given moment, always sounded perfectly right. His death in 1999 at the age of thirty-six was a great loss to Jazz, but his legacy lives on and can still enjoyed by us today. How symbolic is it, that his grave in Paris is next to the grave of Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist…? Overall, this is a sensationally beautiful album, heartbreaking in its perfection and Artistry, which personally brings fond memories on top of the enjoyment of the music of course. For solo piano Jazz enthusiasts, this is an absolute must!

Updated: 22/07/2026Posted: 22/07/2026

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MICHEL PETRUCCIANI ~ TRIO IN TOKYO DREYFUS 36605 (Barcode: 3460503660526) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz Recorded: 1997 Released: 1999 This is a live album by the great French Jazz pianist / composer / bandleader Michel PetruccianiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio setting with American rhythm section comprising of bass guitarist Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist and drummer Steve GaddFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, seven of which are original compositions by Petrucciani and one is by Miles DavisFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded in November 1977, a tad over a year before Petrucciani’s tragically premature death in January 1999 at the ridiculous age of thirty-six. Despite his genetic illness, which caused his short statue, he was a great genius and one of the greatest Jazz piano players of the 20th Century, in the class of Bill Evans. His sensitivity, style and virtuosity were so colossal, that seeing him playing live transformed his shriveled body into a Giant, a miracle I was lucky to experience many times, as well as carrying him in my arms on stage, which he was unable to do on his own. I miss him terribly. The music is of course Godly, and luckily for Jazz, and especially Jazz piano trio enthusiasts, his recorded legacy is pretty extensive, and he never made a weak album, neither in studio or live, and this excellent concert at the Blue Note club in Tokyo is no exception. Overall, this is a beautiful Jazz piano trio album, presenting wonderful melodic compositions, full delicate lyricism and exquisite harmony, supported by a brilliant rhythm section, which played with Petrucciani in a telepathic coherence. A must in every decent Jazz records collection.

Updated: 11/07/2025Posted: 11/07/2025

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KUBA PLUZEK ~ ELEVEN SONGS V 007 (Barcode: 5903111377069) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the second album by young Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kuba PluzekFind albums by this artist and his first solo piano outing. It presents, as the title suggests, eleven "songs", or rather compositions, treated in a very melodic way, two of which are his own compositions and the remaining nine are by Polish (Zbigniew WegehauptFind albums by this artist, Andrzej KurylewiczFind albums by this artist) and other (Brad MehldauFind albums by this artist, Michel PetruccianiFind albums by this artist, Dave HollandFind albums by this artist) Jazz musicians / composers or by non-Jazz cinematic composers (Hans ZimmerFind albums by this artist, Luis BacalovFind albums by this artist). From the very first notes of this album it becomes immediately apparent that Pluzek justifies all the high hopes expressed as a result of his debut album a couple of years earlier. His technique and touch are completely fluid and seamless, which is quite exceptional at his age. His choice of material seems to be no less intelligent and sophisticated than the actual performance, creating a roundness and sense of continuity, which only a few solo piano albums are able to achieve. The piano playing style Pluzek utilizes on this album is based on extended continuous left hand arpeggios and the right hand stating the melody lines and chord progressions, which is somewhat similar to early Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist solo piano work, and is equally effective. His ability to play around with the tempi and producing a wide range of dynamic shifts is also impressive. But beyond the technical facets of his playing, Pluzek expresses a beautiful lyricism and romance, which only the greatest piano players are blessed with. His interpretation of the classic ballad "Danny Boy", which has been performed countless times before, is a case in point. The entire experience of listening to this album is full of straightforward joy of music and of life, a rare moment of pure pleasure, which leaves the listener relaxed and deeply satisfied once the journey is over. Although this is one of the first Polish Jazz albums of 2015, it is already pretty sure to become one of the contenders of the annual competition of top albums for this year. Definitely a commendable successor to the exceptional debut, this album is everything a piano solo album is supposed to be – a spiritual experience!

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STEVE SMITH ~ FLASHPOINT MASCOT 7175 (Barcode: 8712725717522) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2005 Released: 2005 Veteran Fusion drummer Steve SmithFind albums by this artist combines forces with three other extraordinary musicians to form one the best Fusion ensembles ever. Legendary saxophonist Dave LiebmanFind albums by this artist needs no introduction and his exceptional work since his days with the Miles DavisFind albums by this artist group has always been a beacon of innovation and excellence in the jazz world. The same can be said about the legendary bassist Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist, whose illustrious career includes playing with Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, Michel PetruccianiFind albums by this artist and countless other jazz stars. The fourth member of the band, Turkish keyboards player Aydin EsenFind albums by this artist, is the only relatively unknown musician in the group, but his performances and compositions prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that he belongs to the same class of musicianship with his three companions. The music is simply breathtaking and overwhelming from the very first moment this record starts playing to the very last note. The music (written mostly by Liebman and Esen) is rich in textures and incredibly intense. The performances are stellar, with one solo chasing another. The entire session just flows beautifully, simultaneously filling the listener with energy and stimulating his intellect. Definitely one of the strongest, cleverest and most fulfilling Fusion albums recorded in the 21st Century. Wholeheartedly recommended!

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