Blog : Philosémitisme

WP nous écrit: "Un des plus grands jazzmen qui n'a pas peur de s'afficher en Israel en dépit de la menace de ne pas pouvoir être invité à donner des concerts au.... centre culturel de Molenbeek [Bruxelles]".  Unbelievable!

Source: Haaretz (Belgian guitar hero to take on Tel Aviv, for one show only)

Jazz guitarist Philip Catherine and his ensemble, who make the complicated appear simple, return to the Israeli stage on September 14.

Before the Zappa nightclubs were turned into an empire, they had one spot in Tel Aviv called Camelot. The Camelot's basement was the perfect place to hear live jazz, and one of the best performances came from the Belgian guitarist Philip Catherine.

It was about ten years ago. Those who were not familiar with Catherine may have been surprised when a man who looked like a farmer mounted the small basement stage. Catherine, stout and smiling, radiated direct, French-accented simplicity. When he began to play, it became clear that he belonged to the rare breed of musicians who are artists of the highest order as well as being perfectly nice people.


In a telephone interview last week, when I heard him say from the other side of the line, "Philip Catherine here, answering your call in Brussels!" it was also clear that the man's overflowing agreeability had remained as it was. What's really great is that you can hear this in his music, too. Jazz guitarists tend to be amazing sprinters with technical rather than human capabilities.

Catherine, in contrast, is the personification of the humane guitarist. He isn't in a hurry to go anywhere, but he always arrives on time. And his playing has a range of feeling and sensitivity: he can be rough and impulsive, tender and contemplative, and impulsive and contemplative - all at the same time. If it's hard for you to connect friendliness with jazz guitarists, you should catch Catherine in his only Israel appearance, September 14 at the Reading 3 club in Tel Aviv. La suite ICI