20-05-2017, 18:57
Iâve been noticing drummer Manu Katché quite a lot lately and decided to explore his solo releases. Heâs worked with a number of artists - Sting, Peter Gabriel, Jan Garbarek, Youssou NâDour, Tracy Chapman, Loreena McKennit, Joan Armatrading, Richard Wright, Dire Straits, Al di Meola, Jeff Beck, and quite a few more.
His first solo album, Itâs About Time (which is classified as rock) is pleasant enough listening â he enlisted a whole host of skilled musos to contribute (David Sancious, Branford Marsalis, Pino Palladino, Daniel Lanois, David Rhodes, Sting, Gabriel, etcetera, etceteraaaa ⦠geez!) and vocally he shows chutzpah, if not a whole lot else; he doesnât have a bad voice, just not a very good one, in my rather uncharitable opinion! Sorry Mr Katché â although the French accent does help somewhat
mile:! The album got good reviews and Iâll listen to it again â it just feels to me a bit like an amalgamation of the people heâs worked with, and as though he doesnât really know yet which direction he should be headed in - hasnât quite found his independent feet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73P9Yu5XyPk
But then ⦠he signed up with Manfred Eicher and ECM. Eicher is a genius, no doubt about it â impeccable taste and style; Katché paired with a couple of Vikings and their Polish counterparts is a whole different ballgame! What is it about Norwegians and jazz/fusion??! Not forgetting that Katché is the composer, of course, and contrary to what one might expect of a drummerâs âsoloâ album, he literally strikes a beautiful balance.
Neighbourhood is the first ECM offering - a track from that with Jan Garbarek on sax ⦠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXxu85FvtiA
And this is from Playground, his second for ECM ⦠both releases are instrumental â¦
[video=youtube;CwCnUdSHMKw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwCnUdSHMKw[/video]
His first solo album, Itâs About Time (which is classified as rock) is pleasant enough listening â he enlisted a whole host of skilled musos to contribute (David Sancious, Branford Marsalis, Pino Palladino, Daniel Lanois, David Rhodes, Sting, Gabriel, etcetera, etceteraaaa ⦠geez!) and vocally he shows chutzpah, if not a whole lot else; he doesnât have a bad voice, just not a very good one, in my rather uncharitable opinion! Sorry Mr Katché â although the French accent does help somewhat
mile:! The album got good reviews and Iâll listen to it again â it just feels to me a bit like an amalgamation of the people heâs worked with, and as though he doesnât really know yet which direction he should be headed in - hasnât quite found his independent feet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73P9Yu5XyPkBut then ⦠he signed up with Manfred Eicher and ECM. Eicher is a genius, no doubt about it â impeccable taste and style; Katché paired with a couple of Vikings and their Polish counterparts is a whole different ballgame! What is it about Norwegians and jazz/fusion??! Not forgetting that Katché is the composer, of course, and contrary to what one might expect of a drummerâs âsoloâ album, he literally strikes a beautiful balance.
Neighbourhood is the first ECM offering - a track from that with Jan Garbarek on sax ⦠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXxu85FvtiA
And this is from Playground, his second for ECM ⦠both releases are instrumental â¦
[video=youtube;CwCnUdSHMKw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwCnUdSHMKw[/video]
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