Best of the Blue Note Years
French pianist Michel Petrucciani's combination of rhythmic energy and inspired invention is heard here in several settings recorded between the mid 1980s and early 1990s. While Petrucciani can be an arresting interpreter of the standard repertoire, the emphasis here is on his original compositions, many making use of Latin rhythms and deceptively simple melodies. During this period, Petrucciani shifted his orientation from straight-ahead acoustic trios to use of electronic keyboards and additional percussion for a cooler, more layered approach. Listeners will likely make a rapid decision about which style they prefer, but what Petrucciani loses in drama with the expanded groups, he makes up in sustained and textured complexity. The highlight of the CD is the Caribbean-flavored "Bimini," heard in an extended performance from the 1986 Montreux festival with guitarist Jim Hall and Wayne Shorter on tenor.--Stuart Broomer