© -Steven
Cerra , copyright protected; all rights reserved.
“The music on this record is
absolutely outstanding, both in terms of artistic content and in superior form
of presentation: within the framework of Bert Joris’ beautiful big band
arrangements.
As for the many new
compositions included in this album, they represent Philip Catherine’s most
recent and successful attempt to develop a new thematic composition language, without
sacrificing his well-established and very personal form of musical expression
both in writing and on the guitar.
Each new piece has a peculiar
and strong musical personality. …
The Brussels
- Adriano Pateri
The editorial
staff at JazzProfiles plans to have a lot more to say about the Brussels
Jazz Orchestra [BJO] in a future profile [perhaps, two] about this talented,
musical aggregation.
Until then, you
can sample the music of the BJO on the audio track to the following video
tribute to the photography of the late, Helmut Newton which features his
intriguingly beautiful portraits of many of the world’s famous actresses.
The tune is entitled
On the Ground, one of twelve [12]
composed by Belgian guitarist Philip Catherine for his meeting with the BJO
entitled Meeting Colours, a compact disc that was recorded and released
in 2005 on Dreyfus Jazz [FDM36675-2].
Trumpeter Bert
Joris, one of the founders of the BJO, arranged all of Philip’s tunes for the
band.
On the Ground is a medium tempo tune that “cooks,” or
shall we say, “slow burns,” from beginning to end.
The melody is
initially stated with Philip’s guitar voiced in unison with the trombones and
blended in places with muted trumpets.
Philip’s solo
begins at 1:42
minutes.
Be sure to checkout
the shout chorus that Bert creates starting at 3:03 minutes with Philip’s guitar phrased an
octave higher, but again, in unison with the band, especially the closing
portion with the sax section from 3:53 – 4:23 minutes.
