Manu Katché - Third Round

Katché, who moderates his own TV show »One Shot Not« on the French-German TV station, arte, can look back on a long career. In the 1980s he was a steady member of the bands of Sting, Peter Gabriel, Dire Straits and Tracy Chapman, with whom he played many concerts and recorded several legendary albums.

His first two albums »Neighbourhood« and »Playground« offer a qualitatively high class sound and a true all-star cast of musicians: Jan Garbarek, Tomasz Stanko, Marcin Wasilewski and Trgve Seim. For his new album he has recruited musicians who will probably be less known within the general jazz scene, but who have repeatedly been his musical companions. The London pianist Jason Rebello was a member of Sting's band. Bassist Pino Palladino (who has also worked with John Mayer and D’Angelo) has worked with Katché in many different constellations during the last 25 years. And Katché got to know the Norwegian Saxophonist Tore Brunborg through the ECM family. The perfectly harmonious quartet is supported by guitarist Jacob Young and American trumpeter and singer Kami Lyle on several tracks.

This completely new band also produces a novel sound which has one main characteristic - it is extremely laid back. This laid-backness is present through all 11 songs on the album. All of them are based on Katché's highly exact percussion work, which - perfectly balanced with Palladinos bass lines - creates the framework of the album. The opening song »Swing Piece« is still reminiscent of the previous album, but by the second track »Keep On Tripping« the listener is transported into an extremely relaxed and easy-going mood. Listening to the following tracks is pure pleasure. Stylistically, the album can be placed somewhere between minimal funk, modern jazz and elegant pop, enriched through catchy and strong melodies and perfectly harmonious chord progressions. Even the song »Springtime Dancing« with its Brazilian reminiscence and the melancholic »Stay with You«, sung by Kami Lyle, fits smoothly into the overall concept.

To conclude, I must cite the very fitting final sentence of the press release: »It is a very laid-back game, which enters the third round here...«.

We are very much looking forward to Manu Katché's performance at the Between the Beats Jazz-Festival on September 24th 2010.

Find more information and tickets here.

Further information

• Website of Manu Katché
• Manu Katché on Wikipedia

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