Manu Katche Manu Katche

After a four album stint with ECM, French/Ivorian percussionist Manu Katché releases his ACT debut, recorded on an electrifying evening (in June 2014) in the famed Parisian club New Morning. Katché and his quartet played some 130 concerts last year, which gives them impressive cohesion; the sound is superbly solid, sweeping all before it. Braced by layers of Hammond organ from the subtle Jim Watson, trumpeter Luca Aquino now standing in for the excellent Nils Petter Molvaer takes flight.

Contemporary jazz that anyone could like, characterised by strong yet open themes, unshowy brilliance and an overall mood of soulfulness and sensitivity. For his third album, French/African drummer Katché has assembled an unusual but effective cast of musicians, with Tore Brunborg on sax, Jason Rebello on piano and Pino Palladino on bass. Guitarist Jacob Young plays on three of the 11 tracks and there's a cameo by Kami Lyle, whose strangulated voice grows on you. Definitely one of the albums of the year. (Source: independent.co.uk)

Third ECM album by French-African drummer Manu Katché, following the best selling 'Neighbourhood' and 'Playground'. 'Third Round' features a completely revised ensemble line-up, but is faithful to a group concept that The Guardian described as "beautifully mutated grooves and jazzy themes", with all participants elevated by the physical presence of Katché's beats and drum patterns. Once again, all music is written by Manu, and his insinuating melodies testify to parallel lives in pop and jazz. The album was recorded in the South of France with producer Manfred Eicher.