With his predilection for the piano trio as a central form of expression, Michel Petrucciani was out of step with the musical trends of the mid-Eighties. He was a highly active musician (some years playing over one hundred concerts), driven by the knowledge that, given his rare genetic bone disease, he had less time than other people did – something he repeatedly mentioned in talks with friends and journalists. Petrucciani’s irrepressible spirit and fizzing musical prowess is captured exquisitely on this album, with bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Roy Haynes proving to be his perfect partners. With a grounding in post-bop and extensive experience in free jazz, Peacock honed his ensemble playing with Bill Evans, Paul Bley and Keith Jarrett among others. Drumming pioneer Haynes personally experienced the birth of bebop, his illustrious genre-spanning career securing his place as a true jazz luminary.
