Drummer
Manu Katche blossomed as a contemporary jazz drummer and band leader, emerging in the mid-2000s after having played with his share of popular musicians. Born in Saint Maur Des Fossés, France on October 27, 1958, he studied classical piano at age seven in Paris, and at age 15 enrolled at the Conservatorie Nationale de Paris. He then became a session and concert drummer with a wide range of groups, but in the mid-'80s,
Katche's stock rose considerably, thanks to his involvement with the touring and recording projects of
Peter Gabriel and
Sting.
A French debut CD, It's About Time, was followed by a string of engagements as a backup musician. The impressive roster of artists he has played with include
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 has also performed on several film soundtracks, including Quand Les Etoiles, Le Demenagement, Mookies, Zone Franche, The Professional, and For the Love of the Game.
After issuing a demo for the Zildjian cymbal company in 1999, he joined the
ECM stable of artists., releasing his breakout recording
Neighbourhood, with help from labelmates
Jan Garbarek,
Tomasz Stanko, and
Stanko bandmembers
Marcin Wasilewski and
Slawomir Kurkiewicz. From 2003 to 2007,
Katche, producer Dove Attia, composer
André Manoukian, and singer
Marianne James comprised the judges panel for Nouvelle Star, the French Television version of American Idol. He also found work hosting the monthly program One Shot Not. During this period, he also worked with popular Croatian singer
Gibonni on his albums
Mirakul (2001) and
Unca Fibre (2006).
Katche's
ECM follow-up,
Playground, came out in 2007 with assistance from saxophonist
Trygve Seim and trumpeter
Mathias Eick. He then returned with 2010's
Third Round, followed by a self-titled album, both on
ECM.
Katche rounded out his time at
ECM with the anthology
Touchstone for Manu, after which he moved to Anteprima for 2016's
Unstatic. ~ Michael G. Nastos