He left this world at only 36, but he made his time here count. 23 years after his passing & 12 years after this was uploaded, I am in awe of his skill & talent. Thank you Mr. Petrucciani.
@@vicvance8580 i've got a degree in sociology from the university of oregon, apparently you do not because you're greatly mistaking race with ethnicity with nationality. italy is not a race but a nation, you might want to delete your comment because you look foolish in the presence of a genius that i am, but i digress, my point is Tonky Tom made a nationalistic remark, and as he said himself an ableist one, not a racist one
Petrucciani signature. An incredibly sophisticated harmonization, yet still enjoyable for non musically skilled ears, and a developped sense of melody. This guy is an absolute genius.
His disability seems to make a strong aggressive stroke with perfect pressure on the keys to bring out that incredible harmony. Put me down as calling him a genius.
We saw Michel perform in Manchester in 1996.I wasn't aware of his disability before the concert. When he was carried on to the stage and sat at the piano we were surprised. My wife who was sat with me had a brother with the same condition as Michel. The concert was unbelievable and we both were tearful for the whole session. It was the most unforgettable evening ever.
Michel Petrucciani is my favorite jazz pianist. I heard him on the radio and found a triple cd album which I have been listening to for years. I was sad when he died, but have come to realize that I should just be glad that he lived.
I had the good fortune and honor of sitting a couple of feet away from him as he played at the Blue Note in NYC. Along with bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Al Foster. I was an absolute blessing! I secretly recorded it and still have the tape.
@@avb5335 At the start of the performance he hits that low chord 12 times as an opener with a smile on his face. Its not a usual part of the song, he just started the song that way to be funny.
@@avb5335 and to add further to the following comment incase it still didn't click, the OP is referring to the striking of a town bell or something of that nature indicating the coming of midnight, I.e 12 o'clock. just a funny and neat lil way to open a classic tune
I remember his name from listening to Jazz FM with my father in London in the 90s. I had no idea he had physical challenges. It's very moving to witness him play so incredibly, able to transcend the physical and fly with pure expression. I have no idea why RU-vid suggested this video to me, I haven't been looking at jazz piano. My father died last week and this unlocked such a specific memory of our time together.
@@annathy That's really cool man, let's talk about the limits that get set on a family that goes bankrupt as its child dies of cancer in the USA, boy, sure wish they had just fought harder to break out of that societal limit!
Round Midnight is Thelonious Monk's most famous composition. Written in the key of Eb Minor, the 6 flats in the key signature take some getting used to but the tune contains lots of interesting chord changes and harmonic movements. 0:31 [PianoGroove]
Jazz is often romanticized as the sound of the city at night when the bustle has died down and there's time for introspection. But few of its composers ever managed to capture that last call feeling, and none did it quite like Thelonious Monk. [NPR] 4:20!!
He makes me realize my trivial health problems and life struggles pale in insignificance to the handicaps he had to overcome. He also inspires me to be the absolute best that I can.
@@emiliosillero4227 Your thought had a purity of purpose that not everyone can tolerate; not necessarily because they 'don't get it', but possibly because at some level they do and it makes them uncomfortable, possibly because such things have been past sources of torment. I only speculate here, but the point is be careful how you judge based on inadequate information. Some people are in pain and know not why. Not that that should be of particular concern to you.
Michel Petrucciani is a master on piano. His music sounds a bit classical music but with Jazz feeling. It's almost like hearing a great piece from Chopin but with the freedom and spontaneous of Jazz. What a genius!
Um, my dear "Profile", as a musician, I must point out that if, "The Ears" don't 'Hear It", all the "Eyes focused on it", don't matter. (In other words, "Listen with your heart".)
I think we have been sent this random video for an odd reason? So I’ve noticed that if I watch a corky musical channel like “look mum no computer” (actually top 3 favorite channels.) but I have sooo many things or “phases” I go through, I end up making like this lunar trip around RU-vid on a monthly basis. But lately I’ve been getting very good and I guess watch worthy shit? I dunno but for some reason I feel cool cause we must be smart to the algorithm for it to be like “hmmmm, this dude will totally get it”. I did. And I don’t think I’ve given piano players a listen... ever. And the fact that he’s a little dude, and possibly with fuckin polio plays flawlessly and shit. Plus I’ve never heard of him but looks like a fuckin sold out arena for him and Kenny g or some shit. Anywhoosle Reddit kinda does the same thang? So I’m wondering if they said fuck it and asked for some help? My other thought.
I’ve never heard of this man before and I don’t know why this video showed up in my feed. I can’t really explain how I felt watching and hearing him play but both were equally mesmerizing. This is one of the greatest songs I’ve ever heard. I can’t wait to listen to more of his music. Thank you for exposing me to this amazing musician.
I'm with you, brother, I just discovered this fellow last night before retiring to bed. I couldn't get to sleep for an hour or more. It was as if his performance was heroine to me. Now I'm obsessed with hearing more of his recordings, and I'm addicted for sure!!!
@@Bigislandtinyfootprintbusker No, unfortunately. I took piano and drum lessons as a kid but never dedicated myself to either which is something I’ve regretted as I’ve gotten older.
The way Michel plays this really gets me deep. He plays everything with maximum emotion and it speaks so loud to me. I think it's that he's had to overcome so much, and that level of dedication, but also pain, comes through in his playing.
I like the fact that Mr P says “I’m going to play it anyway”. This is one of the best manifestations of what jazz music is - total freedom in challenging circumstances.
TheGP83 TheGP83 Petrucciani is ITE, but he's no Maestro Miguel Angel Messulam though, and Round Midnight is the worst Jazz standard of all time, after Giant Steps of course
Michel Petrucciani (French pronunciation: [miʃɛl petʁutʃani]; Italian: [petrutˈtʃaːni]; 28 December 1962 - 6 January 1999)[1] was a French jazz pianist. From birth he had 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 pain in his arms. Osteogenesis imperfecta seemed to contribute greatly both to Petrucciani's personality and his playing style. By his own account, he was in almost constant physical pain.[7] Yet, he was known for his cheerful, playful, even cavalier personality. He said, "I love humor, I love to laugh, I love jokes, I love silliness, I love that, I think it's great, I think laughter is worth a whole lot of medicine."[7] In 1994, he was granted the Order of the Légion d'honneur in Paris. In the late 1990s, Petrucciani's lifestyle became increasingly taxing. He was performing over 100 times per year, and in 1998, the year before he died, he performed 140 times. He became too weak to use crutches and had to resort to a wheelchair. His final manager said, "He was working too much - not only recording and doing concerts, but he was always on television, and he was always doing interviews. He got himself overworked, and you could see it. He pushed too much." In his later years Petrucciani was known to drink heavily.[3] Petrucciani died from a pulmonary infection a week after his 36th birthday. He was interred in Le Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, one tomb away from Frédéric Chopin.[3] On 12 February 2009, the French music channel Mezzo broadcast a special event paying homage to Petrucciani on the 10th anniversary of his death.
What's so impressive about an artist like this is that he could play the same piece completely different if doing so the following night. Michel was truly an improvisational genius.
@@Marunius The vast majority of music most of us have at our disposal is records, so this is a moot argument. I personally never cared about the "it's always different!" aspect of jazz. I think the point of improvisation is not that it's always "different" but that it's a particular way of creating music.
The heart of jazz improvisation is here - how something so often heard as Round About Midnight turns into a new magical world full of secret passages and bright windows. Beautiful.
I feel so much respect for this person who despite his illness was an ingenious musician. He has immortalized himself with his interpretations. Thanks Michel.
what else are you gonna do? roll up in a ball and whine how terrible the world is to you? why does it take just one guy like this for you to make a comment about how profound it is- you know there are millions of people living with conditions that wake up every day and do amazing things despite their challenges...
I know these statements are meant to be wholesome but imagine listening to this stuff or reading it when you're in his position. Just another person who speaks about the one thing you want everybody to shut up about
@@ActuallyAwesomeName Whoa. Whoa. Take it easy there, buddy. That poor guy had no choice in being born as a white male. Just because he was born into a world of privilege does not make him an invalid.
@@haywoodjablome440 What a bit of bullshit! Do pull yourself together, and think before putting your thoughts out on the ether. What being born a white male into a world of privilege in his particular case has little to do with anything.
One of the greatest things in life to witness is a person overcoming extreme adversity and reaching greatness like this man. Unbelievably inspiring and beautiful♥
I've never heard of this guy...but damn, it looks like he's hitting the keys way harder and sometimes softer than it sounds. His tone is coming from somewhere I can't see. Sweet.
It's coming from hell and heaven at the same time, i guess. Petrucciani, in his own life was not a saint (ask to his girlfriends...). Un abbraccio dall'Italia...
Wow! I have played 'Round Midnight in concerts but, compared to this man, I must have been playing Baa Baa Blacksheep - what a talent, what an arrangement, what an innovation! Wow!
I think it's fair to say he was the hardest working pianist that's ever recorded live. This man felt the music, and I have no doubt it's what he lived for as well.
He played like a man who knew his time to express himself was limited, so waste none of it. And he did so beautifully and with great skill, insight, and musicianship.
Wow. Thanks RU-vid for putting this video in my queue. I had never heard of Mr. Petrucciani before listening to this video. He was a great musical genius whose life was cut too short at the age of 36. We are so lucky to live in the era where these masterpieces are recorded for future generations to enjoy.
''Round Midnight" is Thelonious Monk’s best-known jazz composition and carries the grand distinction of being the most-recorded jazz standard written by any jazz musician. Source: JazzStandards 1:30
After hearing this artist for the first time last night I was blown away. I had to go listen to Monks version, then back again to discern the original melody within Michel's arraingement
what always impressed me about Petrucciani was his relaxed style of playing and how careless it seems he can raise his hands without missing a note. Such grace
As a musician: this for me is extraordinary talent; I love the sophisticated arrangement: where you can't tell which cord will come next and much less where the music is leading to.
I don't care about his physical form and it doesn't impact my opinion. However, this is one of the most things I have ever heard in my life. It's the best Round Midnight I have ever heard.
I even had tickets for that concert then. And I showed up on the wrong day because I had messed up my calendar. 1 day too late and then he died before i could see him in another concert. Thanks for the music Monsieur Petrucciani...
One of my favorite pianist. So much depth, feeling and mastery of the piano. Charles Lloyd sure knew what he was doing when he hired him to join his band. What he accomplished at such an early age was astounding! RIP
Love the song, the mood and especially the way Michel plays it - the nostalgia he must feel, I can only imagine - he's a wonderful soul................
I learned about a legend today. Beautiful to see you doing what you clearly loved. Brother, I would say RIP, but I have a feeling you're resting to something a little more jazzy.
