CJ Shearn Posted August 1, 2007 Report Posted August 1, 2007 I heard some stuff from "Trio in Tokyo" on Dreyfus during work listening to KSDS 88.3, and I plan on getting that record, but I noticed that in the UK BN put out a complete 7 CD set, which CDUniverse has. Its from '98 so I don't think there is copy protection, but would this set be a good way to get acquainted with more of Petrucciani's work? I've always liked his work on One Night With Blue Note volume 4, which includes the tune taken from that set on the One Night with Blue Note DVD. Quote
Nate Dorward Posted August 1, 2007 Report Posted August 1, 2007 The Blue Note material is fine (& if that set is complete it'll include things like the album with Charles Lloyd, which is long o/p) but for a first acquaintance with Petrucciani I recommend the Village Vanguard set on Concord. Quote
Christiern Posted August 1, 2007 Report Posted August 1, 2007 I always thought that two tracks of this guy would be more than enough. Quote
king ubu Posted August 2, 2007 Report Posted August 2, 2007 (edited) The Blue Note box does not contain any sideman work, it's just a repacked version of Petrucciani's own albums. Some of them are pretty boring synth stuff - you'd be better off buying some of the acoustic sets, I guess - there's "Power of Three", "Promenade with Duke", the two albums that came out on BN CDs later, originally for another label, "At the Village Vanguard" and "100 Hearts"... there are more discs available, but I'm not a big fan (don't find him as bad as Christiern does, though). The BN box I got used for an ok prize and have kept it for the three or four ok albums it contains (Power and Promenade being the ones that come to mind, spontaneously - there's also one with Aberzombie on guitar). Edited August 2, 2007 by king ubu Quote
brownie Posted August 2, 2007 Report Posted August 2, 2007 I always thought that two tracks of this guy would be more than enough. That's rough, but true! Quote
jazzbo Posted August 2, 2007 Report Posted August 2, 2007 I bought this set when it first came out. . .and sold it shortly thereafter. There was nothing I wanted to keep, sadly. Quote
jazz1 Posted August 2, 2007 Report Posted August 2, 2007 I bought this set when it first came out. . .and sold it shortly thereafter. There was nothing I wanted to keep, sadly. I do enjoy the "Power of three" DVD with Jim Hall and Wayne Shorter. Then the cd he made with Eddy Louis is quite good . Quote
Van Basten II Posted August 2, 2007 Report Posted August 2, 2007 The Blue Note box does not contain any sideman work, it's just a repacked version of Petrucciani's own albums. Some of them are pretty boring synth stuff - you'd be better off buying some of the acoustic sets, I guess - there's "Power of Three", "Promenade with Duke", the two albums that came out on BN CDs later, originally for another label, "At the Village Vanguard" and "100 Hearts"... there are more discs available, but I'm not a big fan (don't find him as bad as Christiern does, though). The BN box I got used for an ok prize and have kept it for the three or four ok albums it contains (Power and Promenade being the ones that come to mind, spontaneously - there's also one with Aberzombie on guitar). Sums up my feelings about the BN box, there is good Petrucianni stuff but not there, i'd go for the Owl sessions instead. Quote
king ubu Posted August 2, 2007 Report Posted August 2, 2007 In only have the Owl with Lee Konitz - good one! Are any of the others available? I only know of an "Owl Years" 2CD package that I didn't feel like buying... Quote
Van Basten II Posted August 2, 2007 Report Posted August 2, 2007 (edited) I only have the 2 cd package, Owl records are tough to find in my area and i don't have the patience to do a search on the web and pay top dollar for it. If i find eventually some of them in a used cd store, fine if i don't , i'll live without it. According to Allmusic.com there are 6 cds for this label, most of them seem to be available. Maybe a boxset could be done to put them all together. Edited August 2, 2007 by Van Basten II Quote
Teasing the Korean Posted August 2, 2007 Report Posted August 2, 2007 What issues do folks have with his playing? Just curious... Quote
king ubu Posted August 2, 2007 Report Posted August 2, 2007 I'd put it this way (and I have about 10 of his discs, including the BN box, so I don't have as strong issues as others here): he's technically very, very accomplished, but not really going places all that often... just not an inspired/inspiring player, most of the time. Another one I have and quite like (make that 11, then) is the quartet he did with Steve Grossman, shortly before he died. (Grossman has a few very good ones on Dreyfus, including "Time to Smile" with Elvin and Tom Harrell and a trio one with Art Taylor called "Boucing with Mr. A.T."). I wonder, how's "Flamingo", the disc with Grappelli and Roy Haynes? (Who's on bass again, NHOP?) Quote
sidewinder Posted August 2, 2007 Report Posted August 2, 2007 I always thought that two tracks of this guy would be more than enough. That's rough, but true! Strangely enough, I'm not a big fan either. Quote
brownie Posted August 3, 2007 Report Posted August 3, 2007 What issues do folks have with his playing? Just curious... I just don't understand the fuss about him. When one mentioned the word jazz around these parts not very long ago, people would reply Marsalis, Jarrett and Petrucciani. Michel was THAT popular! I can't ever remember being really impressed by these musicians. About Petrucciani, I'll say that I was more impressed with how he was coping with his physical limits than by the musical values of his playing and the physical limitations were awesome!. I heard him live on a couple of occasions and via his albums that kept being played on the radio jazz programs. His music left me a sense of unease. I heard too often the struggles that he had to go through to perform and the music that came out left me unmoved. Give me Martial Solal any time! Quote
jazzbo Posted August 3, 2007 Report Posted August 3, 2007 What issues do folks have with his playing? Just curious... I feel similarly to Guy I think. . . .I really don't have issues with his playing, the man had a phenomenal talent, but I just never connected emotionally to any of the music. It just spilled out of the speakers and missed me. I did like the trio with Hall and Shorter most. . . probably because of Hall. My interest in Wayne was then wayning and I just let the whole box set go. Quote
kh1958 Posted August 3, 2007 Report Posted August 3, 2007 I had the opportunity to see him at the Village Vanguard once. McCoy Tyner was playing just down the street at Sweet Basil. It was hard to pass by McCoy, but I had seen him a number of times recently, so I thought I'll give Michel Pettruciani a try, plus it's the VV. I was out of there after one set, heading down to Sweet Basil where McCoy played a thrilling second set, lamenting that I had missed the first one. Quote
sidewinder Posted August 3, 2007 Report Posted August 3, 2007 Give me Martial Solal any time! That's interesting, Brownie. One of the greatest piano recitals I have ever seen was Martial Solal in the Georgian Assembly Rooms at Bath around 1988. An incredible virtuoso solo performance that night in a fitting venue. Quote
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.