Philip Catherine

THE STRING PROJECT

- featuring the programme and arrangements of the new album "The String Project - Live in Brussels" -

line-up:

Philip Catherine (git)

Nicola Andrioli (p)
Philippe Aerts (b)
Antoine Pierre (dr)
 
+ STRING ORCHESTRA t.b.a.
Video Sample:

The première of this new project of Philip Catherine took place on January 13th 2015 at Flagey in Brussels.  Philip & his quintet together with the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie conducted by Frank Braley gave a truly beautiful concert for a full house, greeted with several standing ovations.   
The concert was filmed by national TV station VRT-Canvas. The audio recordings resulted to be so good and record label ACT-Music being very enthusiastic, that a selection of the two hours concert has now also been released on CD in September 2015 “The String Project – Live in Brussels”.
The repertoire - a selection of his compositions in arrangements with string orchestra - was performed in France at ‘Printemps de Colmar’ and during 'Mons Cultural Capital of Europe 2015' in July, and will be presented with a select number of dates during the coming seasons.

* * *
Philip Catherine has been on the forefront of the European jazz scene since the sixties and worked with great artists like Chet Baker, Stéphane Grappelli, Charlie Mingus and Dexter Gordon. His unique approach and sound, his dedication to music have been important and influential, and today he is a source of inspiration for many artists of the new generation.
 
Born in London in 1942 and being from a musical family, he developed a musical ear from an early age. When he was 18 he already toured Europe with Lou Bennett. With his recordings "September Man" and "Guitars" in the mid-seventies, jazz amateurs all over the world discovered not only a brilliant guitarist but also a talented composer: themes like "Homecomings" and "Nairam" have become famous.
Philip Catherine has played in the most prestigious concert halls, from the Berlin Philharmonic to the Carnegie Hall, from the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam to the Olympia and Salle Pleyel in Paris and the Palais des Beaux-Arts of Brussels, but still loves to perform in the jazz clubs.  

 

About the solo album “Guitars Two” (2008, Dreyfus Jazz) the magazine Guitarist Acoustic wrote : “simply one of the most beautiful cd’s of this year”.
The CD “Concert in CapBreton” (2010, Dreyfus Jazz) is a magic live recording with an all star line up featuring Enrico Pieranunzi, Hein Van de Geyn and Joe LaBarbera.
“Philip Catherine plays Cole Porter” - in Quartet with Karel Boehlee (p), Philippe Aerts (b) and Martijn Vink (dr) - was released in 2011 on Challenge Records and received among others the CHOC in JazzMag.
 
Philip Catherine celebrated his 70th birthday in October 2012 with a new CD and a memorable anniversary concert at the Brussels Palais des Beaux-Arts received with a standing ovation from the full house.
The album "Coté Jardin" (11/2012, Challenge Records) was recorded with his new quartet: great italian pianist Nicola Andrioli, young drum phenomenon Antoine Pierre and longstanding companion Philippe Aerts on bass, and enchants both jazz fans and classical music lovers.                  
 
In january 2014 the album ‘New Folks’ was released on ACT Music, a duo recording with German bassplayer Martin Wind, followed by several tours throughout Europe.
 
For several months Philip Catherine worked on a new project, a selection of his compositions in arrangements with string orchestra,  and the première  took place in January 2015 at  the Flagey  concerthall in Brussels. Philip and his quintet, together with the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie conducted by Frank Braley, gave a sublime concert for a full house  that was greeted with standing ovations.  The concert was filmed by national TV VRT-Canvas. The audio recordings resulted to be so good and record label ACT-Music being very enthusiastic, that a selection of the two hours concert will be brought out on CD in september 2015.
 
Philip Catherine continues relentlessly and open-minded his search for renewal and perfection. The formulas with which he performs give him the rhythmic support and freedom to unfold his wide palette of musical styles, from that irresistible groovy rock sound to the broad lyrical phrases of which he is a master.
 
"The Belgian guitarist Catherine takes John Scofield’s mix of John Coltrane and Jimi Hendrix a step further by adding Django Reinhardt’s gypsy soul into the mix. That’s a lot of famous and talented guitar pickers in a row.  Catherine belongs right up there with them.”    -  (International Herald Tribune)