by Ken Dryden
Michel Petrucciani was not quite 20 years old at the time of this trio session with drummer Aldo Romano and bassist Furio Di Castri, but he was already displaying incredible potential as a pianist. Petrucciani's risk-taking interpretation of Bill Evans' turbulent &Very Early& is the highlight of this release, closely followed by his own bittersweet ballad, &I Just Say Hello.& Romano's rapid fire &Samba Des Prophetes& is superior to his rather bland and predictable &Pasolini.& Michel Petrucciani made a number of dates for Owl and The George Wein Collection around the same time period as these recordings which are superior to this CD, yet none of them have remained in print. Even though this can't be considered an essential release for Michel Petrucciani fans (especially with its brief playing time of under 35 minutes), it is an enjoyable session.