Manu Katché - Playground

Drummer Manu Katche's sophomore effort for ECM maintains the musical concept of his debut for the label, “Neighbourhood”. The rhythm section remains intact, but while “Neighbourhood” embraced the star appearances of Jan Garbarek and Tomasz Stanko, “Playground” feels more like a band mainly due to the amazing interaction between Mathias Eick on trumpet and Trygve Seim on saxophones, whose restraint and reliance on gentleness complement Katche’s out of the ordinary funky backbeat, subtle fills and pulse. Katche’s subtle, complex and lyrical compositions have gotten stronger and more mature. The classic ECM sound is absent as sound engineer Jan Erik Kongshaug has been replaced by James Farber who also delivers a great recording. Musicians: Manu Katché on drums, Mathias Eick on trumpet, Trygve Seim on saxophones, Marcin Wasilewski on piano, Slawomir Kurkiewicz on bass and David Torn on guitar.

Track Listing:

1. Lo

2. Pieces of Emotion

3. Song for Her

4. So Groovy

5. Morning Joy

6. Motion

7. Project 58

8. Snapshot

9. Possible Thought

10. Inside Game

11. Clubbing

12. Song for Her (Variation)

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Manu Katché - Neighbourhood

In the mid '80s Manu Katché’s amazing drumming style got indeed noticed by artist such as Peter Gabriel and Sting, with whom he toured and recorded extensively. These inspiring collaborations propelled Katché to an impressive and prolific career as a studio drummer. His list of credits is both impressive and diverse as Katché always provides superb unique grooves to any recording. After having played with his share of popular musicians he blossomed into the contemporary jazz scene as a backing force on many recordings for the ECM record label and finally he joined the label and released “Neighbourhood” in 2005 with the help from some of the same ECM stars he recorded with. The reflective, ardently lyrical mood of Katché's compositions is both naive and thoughtful and his percussive backing fierce yet subtle, carefully keeping a gentle pulse that paves the way for the space and dynamic reach of the group as a whole, beautifully recorded by the master of the ECM sound Jan Erik Kongshaug. Musicians: Manu Katché on drums, Jan Garbarek on saxophones, Tomasz Stanko on trumpet, Marcin Wasilewski on piano, Slawomir Kurkiewicz on bass.

Track Listing:

1. November 99

2. Number One

3. Lullaby

4. Good Influence

5. February Sun

6. No Rush

7. Lovely Walk

8. Take Off and Land

9. Miles Away

10. Rose

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Caudio Baglioni - Oltre

Following the release of his second album “Un cantastorie dei giorni nostril” in 1972, Italian singer Claudio Bablioni established himself as an international success with his worldwide hit “Questo piccolo grande amore”. His career has continued with a great deal of success but mainly contained to Europe. His albums have always been on the edge of innovation and creativity and “Oltre” is certainly one of his most amazing achievements. Baglioni’s audacity took him into releasing this project released as a double CD. On “Oltre” his raspy yet smooth and fierce voice is at its peak, his compositional skills are at their best and the production has turned this album into a remarkable work of art, mainly due to the incredible arrangements of Celso Valli. Baglioni has the ability of writing complicated yet beautiful almost operatic melodies, which start low and reach a peak of emotion that opens your heart to the greatness of his music. The list of musicians who contribute to this album is a “who is who” of the record business, yet their contributions are not merely interventions but true evocative stamps of their talents without shading Baglioni’s concept. A sample of this album’s uniqueness is the song “Tamburi Lontani” (sampled below) beautifully arranged only for drums, acoustic bass, percussion, horns and woodwinds, (there are no keyboards or guitars). Musicians: Claudio Baglioni Vocals, Producer, Celso Valli arranger, director, keyboards and programming, Simon Clark on piano, Danny Cummings, Hossam Ramzy and Frank Ricotti on percussion, Pino Daniele on guitar and vocals, Youssou N’Dour on vocals, Manu Katché, Charlie Morgan and Steve Ferrone on drums, John Giblin, Tony Levin and Pino Palladino on bass, Phil Palmer and David Rhodes on guitar, David Sancious on keyboards, Richard Galliano on accordion and fisarmonica, Didier Lochwood on violin, Paolo Gianolio on guitar and programming and Roberta Longhi, Danilo Rea and Mia Martini background vocals plus strings, orchestra and choir.

NOTE: This album is not available digitally.

Track Listing:
1. Dagli Il Via
2. Io Dal Mare
3. Naso Di Falco
4. Io Lui E la Cana Femmina
5. Stelle Di Stelle
6. Vivi
7. Le Donne Sono
8. Domani Mai
9. Acqua Dalla Luna
10. Tamburi Lontani (sampled above)

11. Noi No
12. Signora Delle Ore Scure
13. Navigando
14. Le Mani E l'Anima
15. Mille Giorni Di Te E Di Me
16. Dov'e Dov'e
17. Tieniamente
18. Qui Dio Non C'E
19. La Piana Dei Cavalli Bradi
20. Pace
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Francis Cabrel - Samedi Soir Sur La Terre

The music of Francis Cabrel has always been characterized by simple elements, great songwriting, an acoustic guitar and a gentle voice. Cabrel is the French equivalent of a mixture of James Taylor and Mark Knopfler. His contemporary folk style incorporates elements of rock, blues, jazz and French pop rock. His second album, “Les Chemins de Traverse”, released in 1979 penned the single "Je l'aime à mourir," which earned him the recognition of worldwide audiences and the song even got translated to other languages as covered by other artists. His songs are carefully crafted and infused with a variety of influences and his renowned lyrics are sharp and poetic. “Samedi Soir Sur la Terre” is an Amazing example of all these characteristics smoothly brought together by beautiful instrumentation, great musicianship while the main focus is kept on Cabrel's voice, his guitar and his amazing songwriting enhanced by appropiate production and a beautiful recording. This is a master at his trade. Musicians are: Francis Cabrel on vocals and acoustic guitars, Michael Francoise and Denys Lable on guitars, Bernard Paganotti on bass and vocals, the great Manu Katché on drums, Gérard Bikialo on keyboards, Michel Gaucher on flute, piccolo and saxes, Denis Benarrosch on percussion, Nicolas Reyes of the Gipsy Kings vocals on “La Corrida”, Jean-Louise Roques on accordion, Thierry Caens on trumpet, Bruno Flahou on trombone, Andre Gilbert on tuba, Jerome-Julien Laferriere on clarinet, Eric Vernier on horn and Marina Albert, Carole Fredericks and Debbie Davis on background vocals. This album was mix by the great engineer James Farber.

Track Listing:

1. La Corrida (sampled above)
2. Assis Sur le Rebord du Monde
3. La Cabane du Pêcheur
4. Samedi Soir Sur la Terre
5. Je T'Aimais, Je T'Aime, Je T'Aimerai
6. Les Vidanges du Diable
7. L' Arbre Va Tomber
8. Octobre
9. Le Noceur
10. Tot Ou Tard S'En Aller
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