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This live recording features Michel Petrucciani (piano) together with his father - Tony - playing semi-acoustic guitar. Though released in 2001, it's recorded back in 1992 and lets us listen to 9 jazz-standards and one tune - "Michel's Blues" - written by Tony Petrucciani. Both musicians are clearly in a good mood, and they get together very well. The title - Conversations - therefore is well chosen, as they switch between playing solos and backing each other.

It's a nice record - and it's obvious that both musicians and their public have a good time. And so will you as a listener if you like highly skilled jazz with drive and a happy atmosphere. And jazz that's true to the spirits and roots of the music.

I catch my self stomping my foot and rocking my head - and at the same time listening to the fine details and interplay between the two. Most of the tunes are in a high tempo with Michel setting the pace as he often did in the first many years (later he developed more depth in addition to his brilliant musicality and technique - listen to "Solo Live"). In my opinion the best tunes are "Sometime Ago", "Michel's Blues" and "Summertime" which really gets the CD kicked off (is that only one person playing that piano?). There are no "they-should-not-have-been-included" tracks on the record - so go ahead and listen.

If you are new to Michel Petrucciani (or vice versa...), this record is a good place to start what can - and should! - be a long and joyful relationship.

Now we know where Michel Petrucciani got his talent from! Here on this live album from November 1992 he plays with his Dad Tony, who is a fine Jazz Guitarist. By 1992 Michel was almost the complete deal and though he may have improved a bit over the last eight years of his life I suspect you are hearing him at his very best here.

It certainly swings like crazy a lot of the time. The opening track Gershwin's "Summertime" motors along at quite a tempo and Michel's opening solo sets the standard for the rest of the album. A long solo Piano intro starts "All the things you are" with the inevitable applause when after a minute and 45 seconds the tune is stated. On this track the first featured solo is by Tony Pettruciani and its here where I'll make my only slight criticism of the album. There is a big difference when Tony P is playing a solo and Michel P is comping behind him as against the reverse. When the Guitar is comping the pair swing, but when the Piano is comping it doesn't swing quite as well. My favourite track is their superb version of Parker's "Billie's Bounce" which is generates a lot of heat!

The only reason I haven't given the album 5 stars is because there are better Michel Petrucciani albums you buy. I recommend the duet albums with Eddy Louiss on Hammond Organ and the Trio in Tokyo album with Steve Gadd and Anthony Jackson.