Search - Michel Petrucciani :: Days of Wine & Roses: Owl Years 1981-1985

Early recordings from a great musician

C. Hensing | Valby, Denmark | 01/28/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"These recordings let us listen to the young Michel Petrucciani, when he was with OWL Records (1981-85). During this period - starting when he was only 19 years old! - he made 6 CDs. This compilation contains excerpts from all six.



You hear an already technically excellent piano player - mainly playing solo except for cd2/#4 (w. Lee Konitz, alto.sax), CD1/#5 & 8 (w. Ron McClure, bass) and CD1/#1 & CD2/#1 (w. J.F.Jenny Clark, bass & Aldo Romano, dr.).



There is a lot of good music here - and a wise selection of the young Petrucciani playing both his own tunes and some written by others. Among the best are "Amalgame" and "It's what I am doing when I miss you" (both from Oracle's Destiny" and "I just say hello" (from "Cold Blues").



Most of the tunes have a bright and optimistic atmosphere in a slow to medium tempo. Not as "deep" as you'll find on his latest recordings - but it's good, genuine jazz, loyal to the root of the music. The young Petrucciani heard here knows his stuff, plays it well - and even though some of the recording are 20+ years, they're definitely still worth listening to.



A fine CD-set to start listening to Michel Petrucciani - or to catch up with the early MP.



PS: If you're going for "the full Mike P.", the 6 CDs (and my rating) from the OWL-years are:

"Michel Petrucciani" - w. Clark & Romano (OWL 025CD), Recorded April 1981 - (4*).

"Date with Time" - solo piano (OWL 064CD), Recorded December 1981, released 1991 - (3½*)

"Toot Sweet" - w. Lee Konitz (OWL 028CD), Recorded May 1982 - (4*)

"Oracles Destiny" - solo piano (OWL 032CD), Recorded October 1982 - (5*)

"Note n'Notes" - solo piano (OWL 037CD), Recorded October 1984 - (4*)

"Cold Blues" - w. McClure (OWL 042CD), Recorded January 1985 - (4½*)"