Manu Katche Neighbourhood LP

Manu Katché's first leader date for ECM finds him fronting a remarkable band, assembled by producer Manfred Eicher, which brings the French-African drummer together with Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek and Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stanko. Two of Stanko's gifted young associates, pianist Marcin Wasilewski and bassist Slawomir Kurkiewicz, complete an ensemble which plays Manu's music with enormous assurance, as if they've been playing together for years. Which, indeed, some of them have. As so often with this record label, a "first encounter" trails a network of associations and interwoven histories….

Katché's ten original compositions here unfold slowly and subtly, each one fresh, lyrical and elegant. His propulsive and unobtrusive drumming adds a different feel to each composition, giving this music its quiet fire. The stellar cast on this album bring Katché's music to life and indelibly stamp their own identity on it.