*** MICHEL PETRUCCIANI, “Au Theatre des Champs Elysees,” Dreyfus Jazz

Jazz standards are the repertory theater of musical performance, allowing individual artists the chance to develop their own character inside familiar roles. As a solo pianist, Petrucciani is particularly adept at finding new motivation and personality in well-worn material, injecting something of himself into the music while remaining true to a song’s original intent.

This two-disc set, recorded live in Paris in 1994, gives Petrucciani plenty of room to emote. A “homage” to Thelonious Monk stirs a furiously paced “I Mean You” with a delicate “ ‘Round Midnight.” “Caravan” and the pianist’s own “Even Mice Dance” are mated with contrasting rhythmic variations and sweeping, occasionally dissonant harmonic gestures. The 40-minute triumph “Medley of My Favorite Songs” strings together a handful of showpieces, including an expansive “Maiden Voyage,” a lush “In a Sentimental Mood” and a sharply cut “Autumn Leaves” that only vaguely resembles the original.

That Petrucciani can sustain a high level of interest throughout this set’s 100 minutes of music is a testament to his command.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four (excellent).