egroj world: Manu Katche • Unstatic

Friday, May 31, 2024

Manu Katche • Unstatic

French drummer Manu Katche always seemed something of an odd man at ECM Records on his four solo discs—warm, groove-centric, gregarious sets competing with the Nordic cool of Tord Gustavsen, or the thoughtful melancholy of trumpeter Tomasz Stańko and pianist Marcin Wasilewski. And—like few artists in the ECM stable—he crossed successfully into the rock world via work with Peter Gabriel, Sting, Robbie Robertson and many more.

So it's not a surprise to find him on Unstatic (Anteprima Productions) crafting deep grooves and catchy melodies, and molding an outgoing, danceable atmospheric, and leading a versatile, killer band, with saxophonist Tore Brunborg slipping away from his ECM mode into Katche's less spare, less somber sonic world.

Luca Aquino joins Bruborg in the front line, along with—on five of the eleven tunes—trombonist Nils Landgren. Bassist Ellen Andrea Wang and keyboardist Jimmy Watson are rhythm masters, laying down wall of sound beats with Katche.

But it's not all party time music. "Trickle" has a weighty despair; "Daze Days" is pretty, pastoral, mournful.

But the title tune, with its metallic keyboard work juxtaposed with Katche's muscular drums wouldn't sound out of place in a disco club—until Aquino lays down a breathy, delicate trumpet solo; and "Ride Me Up" has an electro-acoustic orchestral vibe, Watson's piano popping like hammers on steel pipes, laid on with finesse; and "Out Of Sight" features another stellar Aquino Trumpet solo, followed by Brunborg on soprano sax, nestled deep (of course) in Manu Katche's characteristic world of grooves.
Dan McClenaghan By Dan McClenaghan
August 9, 2016
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/unstatic-manu-katche-anteprima-productions-review-by-dan-mcclenaghan

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El batería francés Manu Katche siempre ha parecido un hombre extraño en ECM Records en sus cuatro discos en solitario: conjuntos cálidos, centrados en el groove y gregarios que compiten con la frescura nórdica de Tord Gustavsen o la melancolía reflexiva del trompetista Tomasz Stańko y el pianista Marcin Wasilewski. Y, como pocos artistas de ECM, se adentró con éxito en el mundo del rock trabajando con Peter Gabriel, Sting, Robbie Robertson y muchos más.

Así que no es una sorpresa encontrarlo en Unstatic (Anteprima Productions) creando grooves profundos y melodías pegadizas, y moldeando un ambiente extrovertido y bailable, y liderando una banda versátil y asesina, con el saxofonista Tore Brunborg deslizándose desde su modo ECM al mundo sónico menos sobrio y menos sombrío de Katche.

Luca Aquino se une a Bruborg en la primera línea, junto con el trombonista Nils Landgren, en cinco de los once temas. La bajista Ellen Andrea Wang y el teclista Jimmy Watson son maestros rítmicos, creando un muro de sonido con Katche.

Pero no todo es música de fiesta. «Trickle» tiene una pesada desesperación; «Daze Days» es bonita, pastoral, lúgubre.

Pero la canción que da título al disco, con sus teclados metálicos yuxtapuestos a la musculosa batería de Katche, no sonaría fuera de lugar en una discoteca, hasta que Aquino hace un solo de trompeta suave y delicado; Ride Me Up» tiene un aire de orquesta electroacústica, con el piano de Watson sonando como martillos sobre tubos de acero, y “Out Of Sight” presenta otro estelar solo de trompeta de Aquino, seguido de Brunborg al saxo soprano, en el fondo (por supuesto) del característico mundo de ritmos de Manu Katche.
Dan McClenaghan Por Dan McClenaghan
9 de agosto de 2016
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/unstatic-manu-katche-anteprima-productions-review-by-dan-mcclenaghan

www.manu-katche.com ...

Tracks:
1 - Introdrucción - 2:21
2 - Unstatic - 5:15
3 - Flame&Co - 5:56
4 - City - 3:57
5 - Blossom - 5:49
6 - Daze Days - 4:34
7 - Rolling - 6:03
8 - Ride Me Up - 4:51
9 - Trickle - 4:23
10 - Out Of Sight - 4:15
11 - Presentation - 3:19

Credits:
    Bass [Upright Bass], Vocals – Ellen Andrea Wang
    Booking – www.anteprimaproductions.com*
    Drums, Vocals – Manu Katché
    Executive-Producer – Reno di Matteo
    Graphic Design – Baptiste Lignel, Félix Denoix
    Guest, Percussion – Abraham Rodriguez Mansfarroll* (tracks: 1), Inor Esteban Solotongo Zapata* (tracks: 1), Joel Hierrezuelo Balart (tracks: 1)
    Guest, Trombone – Nils Langren* (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 7, 11)
    Liner Notes [French] – Olivier Bride
    Mastered By – Richard Addison (2)
    Photography By – Philip Ducap
    Piano [Acoustic Piano], Keyboards – Jim (James) Watson*
    Recorded By [Assisted By] – Guillaume Dujardin, Matthieu Lefèvre
    Recorded By, Mixed By – Toby Gendron
    Saxophone [Saxophones] – Tore Brunborg
    Trumpet – Luca Aquino (2)
    Written-By [Music Written By], Producer [Music Produced By] – Manu Katché

Recorded at Studio Ferber, Paris, France
https://www.manu-katche.com/fr/discographie/8/unstatic

Label:    Anteprima Productions – none
Format:
CD, Album
Country:    France
Released:    Mar 11, 2016
Genre:    Jazz, Funk / Soul
Style:    Jazz-Funk, Contemporary Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/8231770-Manu-Katch%C3%A9-Unstatic