After five years during which he emerged from France to become an important figure in the international jazz world, pianist
Michel Petrucciani (still a few days shy of his 23rd birthday) debuted on Blue Note with this superior trio outing. Assisted by bassist
Palle Danielsson and drummer
Eliot Zigmund,
Petrucciani sometimes shows off the influence of
Bill Evans both in the nearly equal roles played by the instruments and in his chord voicings. However, the pianist's own personality does shine through often on the set, which features explorations of four of
Petrucciani's tunes, "Night and Day," and "Here's That Rainy Day." Superior post-bop music played by the already brilliant pianist. ~ Scott Yanow