One of the greatest premature losses in jazz was back the death of French pianist Michel Petrucciani back in 1999. With a touch similar to Bill Evans and a dash of Keith Jarrett, Petrucciani was a wonder on the piano, with this 1990 solo concert at the Riverboat Jazz Festival in 1990 finding him at his apotheosis, during his stint with Blue Note Records.
He was to have a “Live” album of solo music released a year later, but there is nothing on this release that is re-iterated there, showing the depth of Petrucciani’s creativity. His heart of Monk is shown on a couple creative takes, namely “Round Midnight” and a joyful “Blue Monk” and Ellington gets a salute during a medley and a reflective “In A Sentimental Mood”. His own “P’Tit Louis” is a wondrous display of his left hand dexterity while “She Did It Again” is filled with bon mots. Romance is revealed on “Estate” while a medley to close things out is like a leisurely subway journey observing various stops. An artist worth re-visiting and appreciating.