身患侏儒症的法国钢琴家米契尔派卓西安尼于1999年一月六日因为肺病于法国巴黎,走完他短暂的三十七年生命。他堪称八十年代以来最杰出的爵士乐时代表征之一。他不仅克服自出生即罹患的侏儒症、所带来在生理上的坎坷考验,让世人敬重钦佩,身高不及一米、骨骼较一般人脆弱的他,更在键盘上打造出令人折服的雄伟音乐形象。他的琴音充满魄力,强大的情感张力或许来自他对乖张命运的不屈挑战,但是他的音乐绝对不是只有对抗的悲愤,一种令人振奋、奇迹般灿烂光辉,才是他留给世人的最终极成就,而这也是二十世纪最后二十年间、爵士乐国度最珍贵的记忆。
米契尔派卓西安尼生长于音乐家庭,父亲是个吉他手,兄长是个低音大提琴演奏家,使他相当早就接触音乐,虽然因为身患侏儒症,双手张开只有约略八度音宽度,但是聆听他的钢琴弹奏,却无法想像那双小手如何弹奏出如此丰富的音乐。
米契尔的钢琴弹奏早年深受钢琴名家比尔艾文斯(Bill Evans)影响,也略受Keith Jarrett影响,但随后即开展出自己的风格,即使他比别人努力地克服了生理的障碍,甚至鼓励因烟酒与毒瘾而退隐中Charles Lloyd重出江湖,上帝还是在将他的音乐生涯在三十七岁时划上永远的休止符,只留下身后二十几张唱片及乐迷们的唏嘘不已。
Michel Petrucciani overcame the effects of osteogenensis imperfecta (a bone disease that greatly stunted his growth) to become a powerful pianist. Originally greatly influenced by Bill Evans and to a lesser extent Keith Jarrett, Petrucciani developed his own individual voice. He started by playing in the family band with his guitarist father and bassist brother. At the age of 15 he had the opportunity to play with Kenny Clarke and Clark Terry, and at 17 he made his first recording. Petrucciani toured France with Lee Konitz in a duo (1980) and moved to the U.S. in 1982. At that time he coaxed Charles Lloyd out of retirement and toured with his quartet, a mutually beneficial relationship. Petrucciani was a strong attraction in the U.S., usually playing with a quartet (sometimes featuring Adam Holzmans synthesizer for color) or as a soloist; in 1986 he recorded at Montreux with Jim Hall and Wayne Shorter. Although Petruccianis ability to overcome his affliction was admirable, his impressive playing stood by itself; he died of a pulmonary infection on January 6, 1999.