Michel Petrucciani (1962-1999) was a French jazz pianist and composer, one of the greatest European virtuosos of his instrument. Affected by a rare bone disease, he led a dazzling international career before dying at the age of 36.
Michel Petrucciani(1962 — 1999)
Michel Petrucciani
France
5 min read
Frequently asked questions
Key Facts
- Born on December 28, 1962, in Orange (Vaucluse) into a family of musicians of Italian descent
- Affected by osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease), he stood less than one meter tall
- Gave his first professional concert at the age of 13
- Moved to the United States in the early 1980s and notably played with saxophonist Charles Lloyd
- First non-American musician to sign with the Blue Note label; died on January 6, 1999, in New York
Works & Achievements
His very first album, revealing the teenage prodigy on the French jazz scene.
A solo album showcasing the richness of his touch and his freedom of improvisation.
His first record for the Blue Note label, cementing his international reputation in a trio setting.
A concert at the Montreux Jazz Festival with Jim Hall and Wayne Shorter, a peak meeting of jazz masters.
A solo album paying tribute to Duke Ellington, reflecting his admiration for the great elders of jazz.
A bold duo with organist Eddy Louiss, one of his most popular albums in France.
An original composition that became one of his signature pieces, played all over the world.
Anecdotes
In 1981, the young Michel, barely 18 years old, traveled across the United States to meet saxophonist Charles Lloyd, who had been retired from the stage for years. Deeply moved by his talent, Lloyd decided to play again and took him on tour around the world: this was the beginning of Petrucciani's international career.
Born with a rare disease, osteogenesis imperfecta (known as “brittle bone disease”), Michel stood less than a meter tall and weighed around twenty kilos. He had to be carried to the piano and fitted with a riser so he could reach the pedals — but once seated, his playing was astonishingly powerful and fast.
Petrucciani gave his first professional concert at just 13 years old. A teenage prodigy, he was already playing alongside great American musicians passing through France, such as drummer Kenny Clarke and trumpeter Clark Terry.
He became one of the first European pianists to sign with Blue Note, the legendary American label that had released records by the greatest giants of jazz. This was an immense and rare recognition for a French musician.
When he died in New York in 1999, at just 36 years old, he was buried in the Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris, just steps from the grave of composer Frédéric Chopin, whom he deeply admired.
Primary Sources
I never felt disabled. When I'm at the piano, my height no longer matters at all; there's nothing left but the music.
The film brings together archival footage and interviews in which the pianist recounts his childhood, his illness, and his all-consuming passion for music, which he describes as what gave his life meaning.
A trio recording that revealed the French pianist's lyrical touch and virtuosity to the American and international public.
Key Places
Town in southern France where Michel Petrucciani was born on December 28, 1962, into a family of musicians.
Region where he grew up and, surrounded by his father and his musician brothers, learned to play the piano.
This is where he joined Charles Lloyd in the early 1980s, the starting point of his American career.
Legendary Manhattan jazz club where he performed, just like the greatest musicians in the history of jazz.
City where he lived for much of his career and where he died on January 6, 1999.
His burial place, just steps from the grave of Frédéric Chopin, a composer he revered.
Typical Objects
His lifelong instrument; on stage, the moment he sat down at the keyboard, his illness faded behind the power and finesse of his playing.
A special device attached to the piano pedals so he could reach them despite his very small stature.
He had to be carried to the bench before each concert; once seated, he mastered the instrument like the very greatest.
His albums released on the American label Blue Note, a mark of his recognition among the international giants of jazz.
Petrucciani was not only a performer: he wrote his own pieces, like his famous tune “Looking Up.”
Elegant in all circumstances, he wore suits cut specially to his measurements for his concerts.
School Curriculum
Vocabulary & Tags
Key Vocabulary
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Daily Life
Morning
Like many musicians who play late into the night, Michel often woke up in the late morning. He started his day quietly, then sat down at the piano to work on his pieces and search for new ideas.
Afternoon
Afternoons were devoted to rehearsals with his musicians, soundchecks in concert halls, and composing. It was also the time when he gave interviews to the press or television.
Evening
In the evening, the stage took center stage: concerts in clubs and halls, sometimes lasting until the early hours. Petrucciani lived for those moments when, seated at his piano, he gave everything to the audience.
Food
A gourmet and lover of good food, he enjoyed French and Italian cuisine as well as fine restaurants. He was also a heavy smoker, which weakened his health, already strained by his illness.
Clothing
Mindful of elegance, he wore tailor-made suits adapted to his very small stature, taking care of his appearance both on stage and in everyday life.
Housing
His life as an international musician had him living sometimes in apartments in New York or Europe, and sometimes in countless hotel rooms as he toured around the world.
