This is a treat for all virtuoso-loving fans. Here we have three masters of their respected instruments, led by the famous French pianist Michel Petrucciani. The rhythm section, consisting of Steve Gadd and Anthony Jackson is a kind of crème de la crème of the jazz world and beyond. Petrucciani was among the forces in the eighties, the worst decade for jazz ever, which kept jazz on steady legs. But it wasn’t until the late 1990s when Petrucciani's lifestyle became increasingly intense. He was performing over 100 times per year, and in 1998, the year before he died, he performed 140 times. He was a pianist most frequently compared to Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett for his lyricism and Oscar Peterson for his virtuosity. His playing was often quite dramatic; critics accuse him of over-indulgence and cheap showmanship; sometimes dismiss his music as being too accessible. Petrucciani was loose and playful in a rhythm section and gave attention to a strong articulation of the melody. He suffered from osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disease that causes brittle bones and, in his case, short stature. He became one of the most accomplished jazz pianists of his generation despite having arms that caused him pain.
For this excellent concert from 1998 in Stuttgart, he was accompanied by two extraordinary musicians, one of the most sought after players around. Anthony Jackson is a Grammy-nominated American bassist and session musician based in New York City, one of the most brilliantly skilled performers alive. He also devised a “six-string bass”, tuned B-E-A-D-G-C, which he called the contrabass guitar, now widely used by bassist around the world. Steve Gadd is one of the most well-known and highly regarded session and studio drummers in the industry, having played and recorded with musicians from a wide range of genres including Simon & Garfunkel, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Grover Washington Jr., Chick Corea, Lee Ritenour, and Al Di Meola. All at all, an exquisite trio performance, worth spending an hour of your time. Enjoy!
