Other Places: Hajdu On Petrucciani

I am sure that I am not alone on this, but I have been listening to jazz since childhood (which adds up to about 30 plus years) and despite being very well read on jazz, and working in radio as a jazz DJ, I had never heard Michel Petrucianni until 2 days ago. Why this is, I don't know. I can say that this little guy could play jazz piano like no other pianist I have ever heard- including Bill Evans. I have always loved Bill Evans and have been looking for jazz pianists whose style style resembles Evans'- and Michel Petruciani's unique improvisation and use of melody reminds me of Bill Evans. I am currently listening to a 3 CD boxed set from Dreyfus Jazz called "Un Messenger du Jazz". Amazing...

Hajdu is perspicacious when it comes to recognizing Petrucciani's unique appeal and the special qualities of Reed, Charlap et al. Michel is one of my all time favorite jazz pianists. What he really has Hadju hasn't figured out: It's the quality of authenticity; that is, Michel is concerned with content first and form second.The other players he mentions are only concerned with form first and content second. Putting content first makes everything you play timeless; Putting form first causes yawning!

I never strive for perfection. I'd be in the funny farm by now if I did. I aim for a 90-95% when I play and therefore enjoy every minute like Michel did. The listener never even realized he had a disability.

I met him at an airport (so what else is new?), in the 80's when he was playing with Charles lloyd. He lived around the corner from me in Brooklyn. We never got to speak. Too busy waiting for flights!

Wonderful blog on this miracle of an improviser. Thank you DR and DH.

(Mr. Reilly's latest CD is "Innocence: Green Spring Suite" -- DR) http://cdbaby.com/cd/reilly11

In spite of his severe handicap, Michel Petrucciani always seemed to be in great spirits and enjoying life. I was lucky to get a phone interview with him around 1996 and he was lots of fun. It's a shame I never had the opportunity to hear him in person.

I agree Petrucciani had something special going. You can, of course, compare him to Reed, Camillo and the other guys mentioned, but IMHO the two pianists that have taken jazz piano a step further since Petrucciani left us, are Jason Moran and Brad Mehldau.I think those two are following Petrucciani's tradition of jazz piano invention more than any other young player today (that I know of)