Three recent releases feature veteran international pianists, one who is no longer with us and two others almost a generation apart. The one who has since passed happens to also be one of the all-time great jazz pianists: Frenchman Michel Petrucciani (1962-99) overcame a genetic disease (which greatly stunted his physical growth) and brittle bones to create rewarding music throughout his busy, if all-too-short life.
The Montreux Years (part of an extensive series that benefits the Claude Nobs Foundation) is a superb release consisting of previously unreleased performances by the pianist (from the Montreux Jazz Festivals of 1990, 1993, 1996 and 1998) and serves as a reminder of the major loss jazz suffered when Petrucciani died in 1999 at only 37 years of age. The pianist is heard in a variety of settings, starting with a real surprise: "35 Seconds of Music and More" features him with a boppish sextet (bassist Anthony Jackson, drummer Steve Gadd and three excellent horn players from France), an unusual setting for him. From the same date, performing in a trio with Jackson and Gadd, Petrucciani romps through the rhythm changes of "Little Peace in C for U", playing bebop at the highest level.
Two numbers (including a beautiful version of "Estate" that includes some stunning double time runs) have Petrucciani in a quartet with sweetening by Adam Holzman on synthesizer. There are three duets with bassist Miroslav Vitous: "Autumn Leaves", "So What" and a very effective uptempo version of "My Funny Valentine". A cooking "Summertime" has the pianist engaging in wondrous tradeoffs with organist Eddy Louiss. Petrucciani is also heard solo on "Take the 'A' Train" (which he takes apart) and a romantic version of his own "You Are My Waltz".
The other two releases are entirely solo efforts, starting with Mike Nock (who turns 83 this month). Nock left his native New Zealand to play music in Australia, and would spend 25 years based in New York, working with Yusef Lateef (1963-65) and leading the Fourth Way (1968-70). He has been back in Australia since 1985 and has at least 35 releases under his name, with Hearing being his first solo album in 30 years.
Performing 13 pieces (ten originals and three obscurities, including Bernie McGann's charming "Spirit Song"), Nock is in a consistently gentle mood, even when the performance is a free improvisation. Five of the selections are under two minutes in length, so he makes each moment count during this high-quality set of thoughtful and melodic mood music. Ranging from the playful "Conundrum" to a ballad for a fallen friend ("Vale John") to the attractively picturesque "Sunrise", Hearing serves as an excellent showcase for the pianist.
Swiss pianist Katharina Weber (65 this month) is an improviser and composer who additionally plays modern classical music. In Marta's Garden consists of brief sketches (only two of the 19 pieces exceed four minutes). It is the pianist's fourth album and second as a solo pianist for Intakt, and consists of 17 originals plus two by composer György Kurtág (with whom she studied in Hungary).
Weber's approach is closer to Ran Blake than to Cecil Taylor, in that she utilizes space and silence creatively, dramatically changing moods from piece to piece, which range from introspection or near-silence to moments of explosiveness. Her pieces are generally based on a single idea: variations on a phrase or, as on "Extemporale 1", something as simple as repeating one note. She often sounds as if she is thinking aloud at the piano, and her thoughts are never predictable, sometimes even jarring. In Marta's Garden will definitely keep listeners guessing.
For more info visit storyvillerecords.com, abc.net.au/abcmusic and intaktrec.ch
