Michel Petrucciani Transcriptions

Biography of Michel Petrucciani

Michel Petrucciani was a French jazz pianist who, despite being born with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease) that severely limited his stature and mobility, developed a deep passion for the piano after seeing Duke Ellington on television and gave his first professional concert at age 13. His career breakthrough came after a stunning performance with trumpeter Clark Terry in 1978, which led to a pivotal mentorship with saxophonist Charles Lloyd, who carried him onto the New York stage, and later to a landmark recording contract with Blue Note Records. Known for a virtuosic and lyrical style heavily influenced by Bill Evans, he believed "a pianist is not complete until he's capable of playing by himself" and focused extensively on solo performance before his untimely death at 36.