Ellen Andrea Wang (bass, vocals); Manu Katché (drums, vocals); Jim (James) Watson (piano, keyboards); Tore Brunborg (saxes); Luca Aquino (trumpet) + Nils Langren (trombone).
(Review by Hugh C)
Manu Katché was born in 1958 in France and initially studied classical piano at age 7 in Paris. At age 15 he enrolled at Conservatoire National de Paris and subsequently became a session and concert drummer. He began to come to international attention in the mid-'80s when he was involved in recording and touring projects with Peter Gabriel and Sting. He then acted as a backup musician with a variety of international artists in various genres but including Jan Garbarek. He joined the ECM stable in 1999, releasing his first disc, Neighbourhood, followed by (in 2007) Playground.
On Unstatic, he performs with a truly international band. The first track Introducción, is a catchy rumba and does what it says on the bote – setting the tone for the rest of the disc. The title track Unstatic kicks off with a decidedly funky groove underpinned by Katchés drumming and given that funky feel by Englishman Jim Watson's fingerwork on keyboards. Flame&co (is there a pun in there?) follows on, taking the pace down a little, but still with a driving rhythm overlain by Aquino's nifty trumpet work. The frantic City permits no rest until the gospel style Blossom follows featuring Brunborg's melodic alto saxophone and vocals from Wang and Katché; the listener can now draw breath. The balladic Daze Days maintains the meditative atmosphere of the previous track with thoughtful trumpet and saxophone from Aquino and Brunborg respectively. Rolling has both drum 'n bass setting the rhythmic undercurrent, over which the horns can play - featuring also a chorus from the beautifully toned trombone of Nils Landgren. The track rolls away and fades to Ride Me Up. Solo piano from Watson introduces Trickle, Wang's bass is to the fore in this track. Katchés drum-work provides an insistent after-beat on Out of Sight over which the trumpet and saxophone weave melodic interplay. The distinctly smoooth sound of Presentation concludes the show and MC, drummer, bandleader and composer Manu Katché introduces us to the band, as if in a live setting.
I have admired and enjoyed Katchés work since purchasing Neighbourhood way back when. Unstatic is a fine addition to his output and is released by Anteprima Productions on April 22 in the UK. catalogue Number CD18021. No tour dates are currently listed for the UK, but you can next catch the band at the Lublin Jazz Festival in Poland on April 24.
Hugh.
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