Running after Years [6:23]
Bliss [4:22]
Loving You [4:38]
Walking by your side [5:31]
Imprint [5:19]
Short Ride [4:05]
Beats & Bounce [8:28]
Slowing the Tides [5:36]
Loose [5:28]
Dusk on Carnon [2:20]
Nils Petter Molvær (trumpet, loops), Tore Brunborg (tenor &
soprano saxophones), Jim Watson (piano, Hammond B3 organ), Manu Katché
(drums). Floor toms on Loose played by Tore Brunborg and Nils
Petter Molvær and piano on Dusk on Carnon by Manu Katché.
All tracks composed by Manu Katché.
rec. March 2012 at Studios La Buissonne, Pernes-les-Fontaines, France.Engineers:
Gérard de Haro & Romain Castera. [52:14]
Manu Katché is a drummer who was born in France in 1958 of
Ivorian origin and who first came to prominence after working with
Peter Gabriel and Sting subsequently working with many musicians from
various genres, including Afro Celt Sound System, Jeff Beck, Al Di
Meola, Tears For Fears, Eurythmics, Simple Minds, Dire Straits, Jan
Garbarek, Manu Chao, Loreena McKennitt,Youssou N'Dour, Robbie Robertson,
Joan Armatrading, Joe Satriani, Tori Amos, Richard Wright, Kyle Eastwood,
Ryuichi Sakamoto. With a pedigree like that his credentials are self
evident before you’ve heard a note played. However, once you
hear the disc you can fully appreciate why so many artists wanted
him to play with them for not only is he a superb drummer but a hugely
talented composer which this disc testifies to, all tracks having
been written by him. The music is infectious with a propulsive, driving
beat throughout much of the disc. The line up is unusual in that there
is no bass which you would have thought you’d miss but the interplay
between drums and piano or Hammond organ provides a basis that more
than makes up for that absence. Jim Watson is a fantastic jazz pianist
who brings the likes of McCoy Tyner to mind while Norwegians Nils
Petter Molvær and Tore Brunborg, both born within four months
of each other in 1960, are perfect choices creating a tightly knit
and brilliantly musical quartet. The opening track sets the pace with
a fabulous tune Running after Years that establishes each musician’s
skill and musicality with Jim Watson and Manu Katché anchoring
the song while trumpet and sax fill in the narrative. Bliss
is well named with Jim Watson’s organ providing a gentle caressing
accompaniment to the hypnotic sound of Manu’s drums. Loving
You builds further on the gentle interplay between Watson and
Katché with Watson producing both organ and piano together
to begin with before his piano plays the main tune that would have
an audience let out the oft heard cry of “yeah!” at the
end. Nils Petter Molvær or NPM as he’s affectionately known
opens Imprint with a wistful sounding trumpet that reminded
me of the late, great Ian Carr, handing the baton to Watson to complete
the tune in dreamy style. Short Ride gives us a chance to hear
the tenor sax of Tore Brunborg and Beats & Bounce gives
us more of his lyrical horn playing while Watson plays the beats of
the title on piano before taking the tune in another direction and
finishing on organ. Watson’s organ is again heard opening Slowing
the Tides with a beautiful lilting main tune that he hands on
to Brunborg’s tenor and which is closed by NPM’s trumpet.
The disc closes with a piano solo from Manu Katché, Dusk
on Carnon, a gentle way with which to end the disc. It was fashionable
a few years ago for some to predict the demise of the music industry
but not only has it weathered the storm and adapted itself to embrace
the era of the download but it has flourished and just as the ‘real’
and ‘craft beer’ industry has led to greater choice than
ever so has the music industry in all genres and I’m always amazed
as to the number of jazz musicians there are and only regret the fact
that I can’t hear them all. I feel very fortunate to have heard
this disc which is a really enjoyable and exciting one and a great
introduction to the wonderful world of Manu Katché.
Steve Arloff
CD Reviews
ECM 370 9456
