Blue Waltz captures the Italian maestro in relaxed mood in duo with Thomas Fonnesbæk, the Danish bassist who has been dubbed the new NHØP. Recorded live in the intimate surroundings of Gustav'sBistro in Copenhagen last year, the album comprises seven Pieranunzi originals, one Fonnesbæk original and two standards in Cole Porter's ‘Everything I Love’ and Jerome Kern's ‘All the Things You Are’. The thing about the Pieranunzi originals is that they all sound like you have heard them before – indeed, some of his compositions are regarded as standards in European jazz, such as ’Night Bird’, ‘Don't Forget the Poet’ and ‘Fellini's Waltz’. Pieranunzi's touch is an integral part of his style and not since Steve Kuhn has a pianist possessed such even, precise articulation, which is captured here in perfect recorded fidelity. Fonnesbæk's original is a ‘So What’ contrafact, but on pieces such as ‘Miradas’, ‘Tales From the Unexpected’ and the title-track (Pieranunzi loves compound time) the pianist displays the taste, imagination and creativity of the true master he is.