Manu Katché
Playground

Time seems to stand still for Manu Katché.

Coming to his second solo endeavor after that little gem that was "Neighbourhood," the refined and impeccable French drummer returns to the jazz scene with a new work titled "Playground". I say that time seems not to pass because this album could be a direct offspring of those fascinating musical coordinates that characterized the successful debut (in 2005).

"Playground" is a record that, although it seems weighted and considered in every single note, oozes an elegance and charm that is not insignificant from its grooves. In this sense, the high class of the musicians involved certainly helps (Garbarek and Stanko are no longer there, but the newcomers Mathias Eick on trumpet and Trygve Seim on sax are dedicated to trying to replace them at best. Not an easy task, it must be said), they are very well combined in a first-rate quintet. Katché, although he is the author of the album, has composed music that gives ample solo freedom to each member of the formation (freedom exploited excellently especially by the excellent piano of Marcin Wasilewski): the French artist simply guides and accompanies his group to absolutely commendable rhythmic shores, serving the group itself, yet filling the sound with first-rate drumming genius.

Like the previous one, "Playground" is also an album with two souls. One more soothing and delicate, dominated by the excellent melodic lines of Wasilewski, which in more relaxed and broader compositions seems very comfortable. Tracks like "Morning Joy" and "Pieces Of Emotion" are, for the writer, the best examples of such sounds: Katché here delights in the use of soft brushes, almost not wanting to interfere with the solo constructions of piano and winds. The other musical soul of the album is a more "rock" soul, drawing handsomely from the "groovy" wisdom of the French drummer. Songs like "Snapshot", "Clubbing" and "So Groovy" see Katché emerge, emphasizing more the accents and weight of his drumming on the compositions. Absolutely unmissable are the sonic acrobatics of the aforementioned "Clubbing", where Manu enjoys ranging across his entire drum set, using both cymbals and drums wisely. It is in these tracks that the presence of the two winds by Eick and Seim is felt more: trumpet and sax accompany each other, intertwine and mingle with great mastery, launching into absolutely enjoyable and well-conceived solos.

A great companion for the end of November, this album: if you too are in the mood for warm and refined music to play in the evening while it rains outside (I suggest), this work is for you.

You will hardly be disappointed.