BMG and The Michel Petrucciani have today announced the release of “Michel Petrucciani: The Montreux Years” - on Friday, April 7, 2023 and available to pre-order now. The brand-new release in The Montreux Years series is a collection of Michel Petrucciani’s most memorable performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival from 1990 - 1998. Beautifully restored and Mastered, Michel Petrucciani: The Montreux Years will be available in multi-format configurations including superior audiophile heavyweight vinyl, MQA quality CD and HD digital.
Born in the South of France in 1962, Michel Petrucciani was diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta - or “glass bone disease” and only ever grew to 99cm. Despite his health condition, Petrucciani went on to become one of the most accomplished jazz pianists of his generation and became a musical prodigy.
At the age of 13, Petrucciani gave his first professional concert performance and became famous locally. However, the young star dreamed of America and in 1982 found himself in California where he met jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd. In the 80s Petrucciani became the first European artist to sign with the American jazz label Blue Note Records, the most prolific, influential, and respected jazz label of the 20th century. It was at Blue Note Records where Petrucciani made seven albums including his acclaimed LP ‘Michel Plays Petrucciani’.
As well as his own remarkable solo career, Michel Petrucciani was a celebrated collaborator for some of music’s biggest artists, including Freddie Hubbard who invited him to join his All Star band. Overcoming physical disabilities to become a world-renowned pianist, Petrucciani was awarded the prestigious Prix Django Reinhardt in 1984 and during the same year his album ‘100 Hearts’ won a Grand Prix Du Disque, the French equivalent of a Grammy Award. In 1994 Petrucciani was made a knight by François Mitterrand, the French president at the time.
A collection of Petrucciani’s most memorable performances at The Montreux Jazz Festival from 1990 - 1998, fans of the legendary jazz pianist can relive some of his biggest recordings on Michel Petrucciani: The Montreux Years. Encapsulating his time at the festival, the release opens with 1997’s “35 Seconds of Music and More” and “Estate” from the 1982 album of the same name. Delving further into Petrucciani’s repertoire, Michel Petrucciani: The Montreux Years includes the 1991 hit “Rachid” and “Little Peace in C for U”.
Launched in 2021, ‘The Montreux Years’ is the embodiment of the spirit of the Montreux Jazz Festival and the legacy of its much-loved founder, Claude Nobs. Nobs refused to compromise on quality or settle for anything other than the best and this ethos lives on in the superb quality of the recordings compiled in ‘The Montreux Years’. Mastering has been performed by Tony Cousins at London’s iconic Metropolis Studios, incorporating MQA to capture the original sound of the special live performances.
Available on pre-order now and released on Friday, April 7, Michel Petrucciani: The Montreux Years is the ninth installment of The Montreux Years series, which began with musical titans Nina Simone and Etta James, followed by Marianne Faithfull and Muddy Waters, John McLaughlin, Chick Corea, Monty Alexander and Paco De Lucía. Having received critical acclaim worldwide, ‘Nina Simone: The Montreux Years’ and ‘John McLaughlin: The Montreux Years’, reached #1 on the UK Official Jazz & Blues Chart in 2021 and were hailed by the likes of the New York Times and JazzFM.
LP TRACKLISTING
SIDE A
35 Seconds of Music and More (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1998) 06:07
Estate (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1990) 10:13
Little Peace in C for U (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1998) 02:53
SIDE B
Autumn Leaves (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1996) 06:31
My Funny Valentine (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1996) 08:53
SIDE C
Miles Davis Licks (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1990) 07:59
Summertime (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1993) 07:14
Take The 'A' Train (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1993) 04:51
SIDE D
So What (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1996) 05:16
You Are My Waltz (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1993) 05:01
Rachid (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1990) 10:06
CD TRACKLISTING
35 Seconds of Music and More (Live from the Montreux Jazz Festival 1998)
Estate (Live from the Montreux Jazz Festival 1990)
Little Peace in C for U (Live from the Montreux Jazz Festival 1998)
Autumn Leaves (Live from the Montreux Jazz Festival 1996)
My Funny Valentine (Live from the Montreux Jazz Festival 1996)
Miles Davis Licks (Live from the Montreux Jazz Festival 1990)
Summertime (Live from the Montreux Jazz Festival 1993)
Take The ‘A’Train (Live from the Montreux Jazz Festival 1993)
So What (Live from the Montreux Jazz Festival 1996)
You Are My Waltz (Live from the Montreux Jazz Festival 1993)
Rachid (Live from the Montreux Jazz Festival 1990)
