Manu Katché | Unstatic,Fourplay

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Manu Katché | Unstatic,Fourplay Manu Katché | Unstatic Gibt es tatsächlich „Abermillionen Alben“, auf denen der fränzösische Ausnahmemusiker Manu Katché mitwirkt, wie der Musiker und Journalist Jan Tengeler in seinem ausgezeichneten Artikel im Deutschlandfunk Kultur schreibt? Aber ja, sogar noch auf vielen mehr. Zum Glück für uns Hörer. Manu Katché ist natürlich ein herausragender Schlagzeuger und sensibler Perkussionist. Das ist ein Teil seines Werkzeugs. Will man aber ein kurzes Profil aufzeigen, so umfassen Termini wie Allroundmusiker, Komponist, Arrangeur und Produzent, der stilistisch nicht eingefangen werden will, gerade mal die Randmerkmale seiner Präsenz. So ist dann auch sein letztes Album „Unstatic“, veröffentlicht im Jahre 2016, ein wohlfeiler Ausflug in die 1970er Jahre, mit dem Groove von Hancock, Marvin Gaye und anderen, die in dieser Zeit einen Soul gespielt haben, der vielfach mehr im Jazz angelehnt war als in den poppigen, schönen und gefälligen Motown Veröffentlichungen. Die Aufnahme -live im Studio eingespielt-klingt deshalb ein wenig nach Bar Jazz, nach kleiner Bühne. Die Bläsersätze schaffen Gänsehaut, allen vorweg Nils Landgren an der Posaune und Saxophonist Tore Brunborg, die den ECM Touch einbringen. Die Rhythmusgruppe ist perfekt. Das Sextett: Manu Katche: drums, vocals; Ellen Andrea Wang: upright bass, vocals; Jim (James) Watson: acoustic piano, keyboards; Tore Brunborg: saxophones; Luca Aquino: trumpet; Nils Landgren: trombone (1, 2, 7, 11);Abraham Rodriguez Mansfarroll: percussion (1);Joel Hierrezuelo Balart: percussion (1); Inor Esteban Sotolongo: percussion (1). Fourplay | das leichte Heavy Weight Wenn eine Formation das 25. Jahr ihres Bestehens feiern kann und darüber hinaus als eine der perfektesten im temporären Jazz gilt, dann zählt sie zweifellos zu den musikalischen Schwergewichten. Zeichnet sich das gesamte Repertoire, derzeit auf über 14 Alben veröffentlicht, durch eine sagenhafte Leichtigkeit aus, dann sprechen wir von Fourplay. Die Musiker befinden sich nicht in der Anonymität eines Quartetts, vielmehr sind es namhafte, fantastische Solisten, die viele ihrer Meriten auch außerhalb des contemplativen Combo Jazz verdient haben. Die Besetzung ist vertrauensbildend seit der Gründung nahezu gleich geblieben. Änderungen gab es lediglich dreimal bei der Gitarre. Heute ist es der außergewöhnliche Chuck Loeb, der seit 2010 Teil von Fourplay ist. Die beiden früheren Guitarristen, Lee Ritenour (bis 1997) und Larry Coryell (bis 2010), sind dem Quratett unverändert verbunden und auf der Jubiläums CD Silver (2015) vertreten. Keyboarder, Arrangeur und Produzent Bob James (77) gilt als der Protagonist des smooth Jazz, für den Fourplay steht. Die ausgefeilten, präzisen Rhythmusstrukturen sind das teamwork der beiden gleichermaßen kongenialen Harvey Mason (69, Drums) und Nathan East (61, Bass), den Part der Gitarrenarbeit hat in der Nachfolge von Larry Coryell seit 2010 Chuck Loeb (61) übernommen. Schaut man sich die Vitae der Künstler an und zieht insbesondere ihre Ausflüge in andere Musikrichtungen ins Kalkül, dann wird verständlich, wie eine solch faszinierende Perfektion, basierend auf durchgängig atemberaubenden Arrangements und einer Spielleidenschaft der Extraklasse, entstehen kann. Die Live Auftritte des Quartetts sind stets ein beeindruckendes Erlebnis, beispielhaft das folgende Konzert auf dem Tokio Jazz Festival aus dem Jahre 2013: Ein erneuter Meilenstein ist das 2015 erschienene Album „Silver“. Wiederum sei herausgehoben, das die Spielfreude und die Perfektion, mit der die einzelnen Stimmen gespielt werden, einzigartig sind. Dem Hörer, der diese Stilrichtung (en) nicht alltäglich hört, wird sich die Feinheit der Strukturen, der Aufbau der Arrangements und der Anteil der Soloparts der einzelnen Instrumente, die dann wieder ins das Gesamtbild einfliessen, vielleicht nicht auf Anhieb erschliessen. Der Eindruck mag entstehen, es würde ein sogenannteseasy listening geboten, was ja auch nicht immer ein schlechter Hörgenuß sein muß. Aber ein erneutes Einsteigen wirkt Wunder und ich empfehle, dieses Album nicht zu Beginn als Hintergrundmusik beim Zeitungslesen aufzulegen, sondern ihm die direkte Aufmerksamkeit zu widmen, die es erst zum Hörerlebnis werden läßt. Verstärkt wird das Quartett unter anderem vom Saxophonisten Kirk Whalum, der mit zum tollen Groove beiträgt. Elegant, abwechslungsreich und mit technischer Brillanz bringt uns Fourplay in eine „contemplative“ Stimmung. Hier beim TitelSilverado nachgewiesen. Discographie 1991 -2016 Fourplay 1991 · Between the sheets 1993 · Elixir 1995 · Four 1998 Snowbound 1999 · Yes, Please 2000 · Heartfelt 2002 · Journey 2004 X 2006 · Let`s touch the sky 2010 · Esprit de four 2012 · Silver 2015 Die Musiker haben in ihrer langen Karriere u.a. mitgewirkt: Bob James ∑ Grover Washington, David Sanborn, Earl Klugh, Stanley Turrentine ……. Nathan East ∑ Barry White, Lionel Richie, Whitney Houston, Al Jarreau, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Kenny Loggins, Phil Collins, Joe Cocker, George Harrison, Babyface, Eros Ramazzotti, Daft Punk, Herbie Hancock, Toto, Michael Jackson ……. Harvey Mason ∑ Liste der Künstler, mit denen Harvey Mason gespielt hat.
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