Record Reviews

MATHIAS EICK ~ SKALA ECM 2187 (Barcode: 602527432281) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 - 2010 Released: 2011 This is the 2nd album by Norwegian trumpeter / composer Mathias EickFind albums by this artist with his double-drums quintet comprising of very gifted young Norwegian Jazz musicians: pianist Andreas UlvoFind albums by this artist, bassist Audun ErlienFind albums by this artist and drummers Torstein LofthusFind albums by this artist and Gard NilssenFind albums by this artist. Three additional musicians also take part in the recording: keyboardist Morten QvenildFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Tore BrunborgFind albums by this artist and harpist Sidsel WalstadFind albums by this artist. Eick also plays vibraphone, guitar and bass. This extended instrumental capability allows for a "big" sound, although it is used with caution and extremely good taste. Eick is often compared to Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, which of course is a great honor, and hopefully he will carry the wonderful trumpet / flugelhorn tradition Wheeler so tastefully developed in the last five decades. It´s good to see Jazz having a bright future!

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MANU KATCHÉ ~ PLAYGROUND ECM 2016 (Barcode: 602517373211) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2007 2nd recording on the legendary ECMFind albums on this label label by French / African (born in Ivory Coast) drummer / composer Manu KatchéFind albums by this artist, who established his international career in the 1980s when he played with Peter GabrielFind albums by this artist, StingFind albums by this artist and many others Rock stars. However, his true vocation is Jazz, as this spectacular album shows. Accompanied by a dreamy team of young musicians: Norwegian trumpeter Mathias EickFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Trygve SeimFind albums by this artist and Polish pianist Marcin WasilewskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Slawomir KurkiewiczFind albums by this artist; Katché presents ten original compositions, all written by him. The music is brilliant from start to finish, superbly performed by all the participants with Katché´s drumming, as unusual as it is for Jazz, adding a new dimension. African rhythms and pulsations play a major role in Katché´s drumming, but they are not aggressive and overly dominating, which is all for the best. Altogether this is a superb piece of music, full of heavenly moments and surprises. An absolute must! Visitors' Comments Christopher  Brice My comments on MK´s Neighbourhood apply equally here: Wonderful playing, and Mr Eick sounds sufficiently like Mr Stanko in subdued mood that I had to double check the line-up; but the writing is not quite good enough to justify to the musical skills on hand in the studio.

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