Philip Catherine - The String Project - Live in Brussels (2015)

Tracklist:

01. Philip a Paris (Live) (3:18)
02. Toscane (Live) (6:28)
03. December 26th (Live) (7:03)
04. More Bells (Live) (5:40)
05. Transparence (Live) (6:45)
06. Rainforest (Live) (6:12)
07. Climate Warning (Live) (5:37)
08. Virtuous Women (Live) (7:38)
09. Bea (Fast) [Live] (3:06)
10. L' Eternel Desir (Live) (4:21)
11. Noburl (Live) (6:33)
12. Bea (Slow) [Live] (2:28)
13. Isabelle (Live) (3:31)
14. Homecomings (Live) (3:19)
15. Pendulum (Live) (4:17)
16. Patchwork (Live) (1:06)

Product Description
Ever since the 1970's, Philip Catherine has had a decisive influence on the sound of the guitar in jazz. This period four decades has also been the time during which the guitarist has worked together with Siggi Loch, which made his the appearance of first CD on ACT feel like such a natural step. That album 'New Folks,' a duo album with the bassist Martin Wind, is now followed by The String Project - Live in Brussels . Philip Catherine is one of the finest exponents of the melodic way of playing the guitar. Having been schooled in the music of Django Reinhardt, Catherine took his playing to another level in his duo with guitarist Larry Corryell, and several albums which he made with Chet Baker constitute a major recorded legacy. Now, at the age of nearly 73. Philip Catherine has been able to fulfil a long-held wish to have his music performed with a large orchestra, the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, conducted by Frank Braley. Nine arrangers made orchestral versions of his tunes, the guitarist/bassist Nicolas Fiszman was tireless in helping with the preparations, which enabled the new work to receive its premiere after just six hours of rehearsals, in the Brussels Jazz Festival on January 13th 2015.

Review
Gentle but firm, limpid but never limp, the sound of Philip Catherine s guitar is unmistakable. It comes together with a rare gift for melodic invention and the telling use of space...It s never a matter of solo guitar with a cushion of soft violins. The focus is constantly changing, revealing new sounds and textures, but the transitions are always smooth and the prevailing mood is calm.