Release in France last wednesday of the Michael Radfor‘s documentary dedicated to Michel Petrucciani. A movie of 1h42 honoring this pianist, Jazz genius, prematurely passed away in 1999, at the age of 36, in consequence to a osteogenesis imperfecta. French born in Orange, he represents for a lot of us the thirst of existence and dignity. Refusing the pity and the resignation, Petrucciani always aimed to transcend himself. To dwell on this health struggle would for that matter weakly and tactlessly tribute him.

Exceptional left hand, unstoppable rhythmic, enthusiasm as grief, this artist’s palette allowed him, in less than 20 years, to wreak havoc in the Jazz planet, reviving Charles Lloyd, swinging Aldo Romano or taunting New York and its Village Vanguard, to finally sign with Blue Note, “The” referent label. So what else to say except that Michael Radford’s movie appears to be an excellent opportunity to celebrate or discover this amazing figure.