Biography
Manu Katche came into his own as a band leader and contemporary jazz drummer in the mid-2000s, after years spent alongside numerous high-profile performers. He first saw the light of day in Saint Maur Des Fossés, France, on October 27, 1958. Piano lessons in the classical tradition began for him at seven in Paris, and by fifteen he had entered the Conservatorie Nationale de Paris. Session and concert work with an assortment of ensembles occupied him next, yet his profile climbed sharply in the mid-’80s through repeated tours and recordings with Peter Gabriel and Sting.
His initial French release, It’s About Time, opened the door to further sideman opportunities. Among the many artists who called on his services were Joni Mitchell, Gloria Estefan, Johnny Hallyday, Michael McDonald, Simple Minds, Afro Celt Sound System, Jeff Beck, Al DiMeola, Tears for Fears, Dire Straits, Jan Garbarek, Loreena McKennitt, and Youssou N’Dour. He also contributed drums to numerous film scores, among them Quand Les Etoiles, Le Demenagement, Mookies, Zone Franche, The Professional, and For the Love of the Game.
A 1999 demo recorded for Zildjian preceded his arrival on the ECM roster. There he delivered the breakthrough album Neighbourhood, drawing support from labelmates Jan Garbarek and Tomasz Stanko plus Stanko’s colleagues Marcin Wasilewski and Slawomir Kurkiewicz. Between 2003 and 2007 he joined producer Dove Attia, composer André Manoukian, and singer Marianne James on the judging panel of Nouvelle Star, France’s adaptation of American Idol. He simultaneously hosted the monthly broadcast One Shot Not. In those same years he collaborated with Croatian vocalist Gibonni on the albums Mirakul (2001) and Unca Fibre (2006).
Playground appeared on ECM in 2007, again with assistance from saxophonist Trygve Seim and trumpeter Mathias Eick. Third Round followed in 2010, succeeded by a self-titled collection, both issued by the same label. Katche concluded his ECM tenure with the anthology Touchstone for Manu before signing with Anteprima and issuing Unstatic in 2016.
His initial French release, It’s About Time, opened the door to further sideman opportunities. Among the many artists who called on his services were Joni Mitchell, Gloria Estefan, Johnny Hallyday, Michael McDonald, Simple Minds, Afro Celt Sound System, Jeff Beck, Al DiMeola, Tears for Fears, Dire Straits, Jan Garbarek, Loreena McKennitt, and Youssou N’Dour. He also contributed drums to numerous film scores, among them Quand Les Etoiles, Le Demenagement, Mookies, Zone Franche, The Professional, and For the Love of the Game.
A 1999 demo recorded for Zildjian preceded his arrival on the ECM roster. There he delivered the breakthrough album Neighbourhood, drawing support from labelmates Jan Garbarek and Tomasz Stanko plus Stanko’s colleagues Marcin Wasilewski and Slawomir Kurkiewicz. Between 2003 and 2007 he joined producer Dove Attia, composer André Manoukian, and singer Marianne James on the judging panel of Nouvelle Star, France’s adaptation of American Idol. He simultaneously hosted the monthly broadcast One Shot Not. In those same years he collaborated with Croatian vocalist Gibonni on the albums Mirakul (2001) and Unca Fibre (2006).
Playground appeared on ECM in 2007, again with assistance from saxophonist Trygve Seim and trumpeter Mathias Eick. Third Round followed in 2010, succeeded by a self-titled collection, both issued by the same label. Katche concluded his ECM tenure with the anthology Touchstone for Manu before signing with Anteprima and issuing Unstatic in 2016.
Albums
Last Decade
2022
Quentin Dujardin 4tet 2020 Live
2022
The Scope
2019
Unstatic
2016
Touchstone For Manu
2015
Manu Katché
2012
Third Round
2010
Playground
2007
Neighbourhood
2006
Singles
