When
Manu Katché is playing, his drum sticks are dancing through the air. His movements are so graceful, they make you think of ballet. He embellishes measures with percussion rhythms and extra accents. His trademark, a ‘busy flow’ as he describes it, consists of beautiful figures and movements on a/o the ‘splashes’- the mini cymbals. Katché isn’t just another drummer who keeps time and provides a solid groove. Katché made a name for himself as a pop drummer with Peter Gabriel and Sting. Jazz wise he’s been playing with Jan Garbarek since 1989, and also with the late pianist Michel Petrucciani and his own jazz bands. In France he’s been known for some time as the most severe member of the jury of the French version of Idols. In the
Neighbourhood project, named after his debut CD on the German quality label ECM, Katché showcases original compositions with a/o trumpeter Tomasz Stanko and saxofonist Trygve Seim.
