_Peter Petrucci
PETER PETRUUCI QUARTET
Nowhere to be Found
"Melbourne guitarist Peter Petrucci has recorded previously with Tony Gould and Rob Burke, and with his own trio-his second album as leader strikes me as his most impressive work on disc to date. It's a quartet session, with Sam Keevers ( piano), Nick Haywood ( bass) and Ben Vanderwal ( drums) all insync with the leader. Whether navigating the changes at uptempo ("Solar") or exploring a dreamy mood like 'Mysterious Landscape' Petrucci sounds assured and confident, constructing long, fluid lines with an attractive tone that at times remins me of Pat Metheny's."
Adrian Jackson
Rhythms Magazine
1st Quarter 2008
Peter Petrucci Quartet
Nowhere to be Found
Jazzplay
Released: January 2007
From the masterful unison statement of the head of New Things and That, the well-titled opening track of Peter Petrucci's new CD, on through two powerful solos from the leader's guitar and pianist Sam Keevers over a solid rhythm team, the aural signs are there for good things to come, and come they do, in varying and never-flagging delights. The title track Nowhere to be Found is next, offering change of pace as Petrucci's guitar creates an almost incandescent glow to his meditative solo, and showcasing a gentle introspection in Keevers' piano solo. To suit its title the heat is back on with the Miles Davis composition Solar, as Nick Haywood and Ben VanderWal set up bristling support for storming solos from taskmaster Petrucci and compatriot Keevers. Anyone who has experienced the bitter sweetness of parting will identify with the lyrical sensitivity of Time to Go. From the delicacy of Haywood's initial bass solo we know just what this number is about. Petrucci runs the emotional gamut as Keevers provides just the right amount of expressive shading to set up a lovely meditation. Message from the Past is a rollicking up-tempo based on the Rhythm changes, straight out of the bebop era, just to let us know that everything old can be new again as Sam Keever's flying right hand develops a life of it's own and Ben VanderWal adds momentum to the texture. Again a change of pace with Point of No Return, a ballad that could so easily lend itself to lyrics. The sensitivity of Petrucci's ballad writing is heightened by his mellow approach as the guitar takes the place of vocalist in a moving wordless rendition. As the title suggests, track seven Thought Forms expresses the fragmentation of musical ideas without harmonic structure, but adhering to the strictures of time. In this number the musicians show the dimensions of their musical knowledge and capability while the following track Mysterious Landscape could almost be a tribute to Phyllida Barlow whose intricate artwork adorns the CD cover. In a landscape suggesting a series of rooms, Petrucci and Keevers give us mystical glimpses of past inhabitants, allowing a voyeuristic musical tour of the landscape in question. Just when you think it can't get any better than this, it does, with Third Dimension an up tempo with opening bars that encourage Keevers to let loose with a shower of dynamics, leading Petrucci into a magnetic take on D-minor. Finally a dance of love, Leaving, a tango with Petrucci's solo leaving us in no doubt that this is an art form based on music of passion, a feeling reinforced by Keevers' exquisite solo.
This album clearly demonstrates the expertise of the members of Petrucci's quartet and their ability to create a wide-ranging program as a cohesive unit. Apart from two American lines and one group improvisation, all the compositions were written by the guitarist/leader, producing a CD of which to be justifiably proud.
Alwyn Lewis.
PETER PETRUCCI- Nowhere to Be Found
Melbourne guitarist Peter Petrucci was with the MOVE label when he recorded his Aria Award nominated CD ‘River Story’, a duo with pianist Tony Gould in 1999. Here we have his new recording, this time with a new label, ‘Jazz Play Records’, established last year by Steve Ryan-Gledhill. With Peter are Sam Keevers on piano, Nick Haywood on bass and Ben VanderWal on drums. There are 10 tracks with over 63 minutes of music. Seven of those are original compositions by Peter and one is a free-form improvisation by the whole quartet. There is also ‘Solar’ by Miles Davis and ‘Leaving’ by Richard Beirach. Peter’s impeccable musicianship, melodical inventiveness, excellent technique and taste (no unpleasant and/or trendy sound distortions!) combine very well with his hard swinging rhythm section. The tune ‘Message from the Past’ (based on ‘Changes’) seems to be re-stating Ellington’s message that “it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing”. There is plenty of it on this CD.
PETER PETRUCCI- Nowhere to Be Found
David Kane, June 2007
©Cadence Magazine, 2007.
Redwood, New York
“..Also recommended is the music of Aussie guitarist, Petrucci on (Nowhere to be Found). Petrucci has assembled a talented group of like-minded musicians in a collection of primarily original pieces filled out with “Solar” and Beirach’s “Leaving” and what appears to be a group improv.”Thought Forms”….I’m not sure Petrucci has wholly transcended his influences ( Metheny and Scofield certainly come to mind) but he is an excellent player and writer (‘New Things and That” is an ear-catcher and a good choice for an opening track) and he too sounds like he will find more of his voice in due time. Also worthy of note is the excellent playing of pianist Keevers whose confident and intelligent comping provide a satisfying foil to the leader’s energetic and intensive playing…..the music and playing on ( Nowhere to be Found) held my attention and I suspect you will enjoy it as much as I did.”
CD Reviews: Peter Petrucci Quartet, “Nowhere To Be Found”
Posted by: editoron Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 08:18 AM
By: Edward Blanco
Ejazznews.com
WDNA 88.9 fm jazz radio station in Miami.
From Melbourne, Australia guitarist Peter Petrucci crafts a fabulous album of light gentle sophisticated jazz melodies and warm ballads with Nowhere To Be Found. With several previous recordings to his credit (River Story and From Within), Petrucci is no novice here. Having played with a duet and a trio, this release finds the guitarist with a quartet that includes bassist Nick Haywood, drummer Ben Vanderwal and pianist Sam Keevers who provides masterful collaboration with the leader through out the recording. Aside from Miles Davis’s “Solar,” and two other covers, Pertucci contributes seven original compositions on this disc.
Containing several mellow ballad style colors, the music delivers a lush relaxing sound that appeals to one’s softer side. This is clearly evident from the absolutely beautiful title piece so delicately introduced by Keevers and warmly engaged by Petrucci’s crisp chords. Bassist Haywood solos lightly on “Time To Go,” while Vanderwal plays the brushes and Petrucci peels off another excellent run. The other tracks that continue the mellow theme of the album are “Point Of No Return,” and the eight minute plus “Mysterious Landscapes.”
All is not slow and low however, there are a few lively pick up beat tracks and two of my favorites are “Third Dimension,” and the finale “Leaving,” which highlight the performances of the guitarist and pianist as they play off each other on some gorgeous melodies. “Message From The Past,” provides a rapid fire rhythm and another delicious piano run by Keevers as the leader matches the pace with fast licks of his own.
There are plenty of jazz guitarist out there making music these days, but despite the title of his new offering, Peter Petrucci succeeded in finding a place in this appraiser’s collection of great jazz music. Nowhere To Be Found is a recording of rich melodic lines covered with a soft texture nicely interpreted with graceful elegance by Petrucci’s superlative performance on guitar.
Year: 2006
Label: Jazz Play Records
Artist Web: www.peterpetrucci.com Nowhere to be Found. The Peter Petrucci Quartet
" ..."Stylistically it is reminiscent of the 1960s, a period when the electric guitar was consolidating itself as a jazz solo instrument..." "Overall, the music is sophisticated and relaxed with a nice balance of tempos.This does not mean that the music does not swing. It does. The fast tracks demonstrate the solo talents of guitarist Petrucci and the quartet's pianict, Sam Keevers. The slower tracks are tasteful and reflective."
John Sharpe, The Canberra Times newspaper, Dec 2006
“Pianists and guitarists seldom appear as a front line duo but Peter Petrucci enjoys working with inspiring keyboard players,… On..Nowhere to be Found.. on the new JazzPlay (sic) label, guitarist Petrucci’s crisp but urgent lines are by turn matched in pianist Sam Keever’s bright, tumbling pianisms. These often intensely improvised tracks are cunningly interleaved with beguilingly gentle ballads that have been crafted by Petrucci but sound
as if they could have come from the great American songbook….”
Derek Leather, The Age newspaper, Melbourne Feb 11th, 2007
_Jack Pantazis
What? The Jack Pantazis Quartet
"The catchy choruses in the opening tracks of What? Are soon buzzing around the brain...."
"His Quartet..... play a jazz fusion that flirts with bebop riffs on What? And Key of Scarlette , while Ostrich Feathers could blow all the way to an LA soundtrack studio."
'Key Track: The 16 minute Suite i n which Pantazis adds to the bright array of guitar stylings already on show..."
Derek Leather, The Age newspaper, Melbourne Jan 14 th , 2007
" All originals, the CD demonstrates the band leader's talents as both a guitarist and composer. Of the 7 tracks, particularly impressive is the longest ' Suite-Prelude, For Pat, Someone's Song.' ..."
"..The gutsy tone of the sax player, Andrew Jackson, adds a welcome touch of hotness. There is good solo work from the bassist Adam Spiegl and the drummer, Tim Coghill, delivers in an uncomplicated way with none of the busy, intrusive dominance which can spoil some contemporary recordings. It is the kind of CD you are likely to be drawn back to."
John Sharpe, The Canberra Times newspaper, Dec 2006
"These two disks allow a lovely start for Melbourme's new Jazz Play Records. Each is led by a knockout guitarist: Jack's debut as leader is sprightly, graceful bop with some nice lyrical passages; Peter's record is more free-flowing, wonderful modal post-bop with excellent contributions from Sam Keevers at the piano. Winners both; getrid of that fifty that's been taking up perfectly good space in your hip pocket and discover some superb Melbourne musicians."
Readings Monthly, March 2007
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