Philip Catherine

Philip Catherine (born 27 October 1942 in London, England) is a Belgian jazz guitarist, born to an English mother and a Belgian father, known for his collaborations on numerous albums and with jazz musicians like Chet Baker, Charles Mingus, Dexter Gordon, Richard Galliano, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Stéphane Grappelli, Toots Thielemans, Robert Wyatt, Klaus Doldinger, Buddy Guy, Karin Krog, Carla Bley, Larry Coryell, Mike Mantler and Joachim Kühn, and within the progressive rock band Focus.

Philip Catherine in Montreux, Switzerland, 1980 - Photograph by Patty Mooney

Catherine came from a musical family where his grandfather was first violinist in the London Symphony Orchestra, and he early evolved an ear for music. When he picked up the guitar after listening to the guitar of George Brassens, he began listening to jazz from this period. Soon he got the opportunity to play with some of those musicians when performing in Belgium, where he was residing at the time. Catherine has been at the forefront on the European jazz scene from the 1960s, and he got to work with artists like Lou Bennett, Billy Brooks, Edgar Bateman, John Lee, Gerry Brown, Jean-Luc Ponty, Larry Coryell, Alphonse Mouzon, Charlie Mariano, Kenny Drew and Tom Harrell, in addition to those mentioned above. His unique approach and sound, his dedication to music and, above all, the highly emotional lyricism of expression in his playing and in his music, have been important and influential.

In the 1960s he was a member of the Jean-Luc Ponty Quintet, and he recorded his debut solo album Stream (1971), produced by the Frenchman Sacha Distel. The album was recorded in 1970 in Paris, and was released in 1971 on Warner Bros. Records. A year later, he collaborated with John Scofield, Ran Blake, George Benson and other musicians in Boston. In early 1976 Catherine replaced Jan Akkerman in the Dutch rock group Focus and appeared on one album with the band, Focus con Proby, which also featured the American singer P. J. Proby. In the 1980s Catherine played extensively with the Chet Baker Trio and is featured on several of Baker's albums. He also played with Charles Mingus, who named Catherine "Young Django".

The All About Jazz critic Ed Kopp in his review of Catherine's album Guitar Groove states: "Guitar Groove is an astoundingly lyrical effort from a guitarist in his prime. It should appeal equally to fans of mainstream jazz and fusion, and to anyone who appreciates superior jazz musicianship". Another All About Jazz critic, John Kelman, in his review of Catherine's 2008 album Guitars Two states:

Sometimes it's not a good thing to get branded too early in your career. Called 'the young Django' by Charles Mingus and operating in the same fusion sphere as John McLaughlin and Larry Coryell, Belgian Philip Catherine was pegged in the '70s as a firebrand guitarist, albeit an unabashedly lyrical one. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but Catherine's career, now nearing its sixth decade, has always been about a lot more than powerhouse fusion chops, something Guitars Two demonstrates in spades. Catherine's ability to reference traditional markers from Reinhardt to Wes Montgomery, while sounding like nobody but himself, makes Guitars Two the kind of career high point that ought to dispel the guitarist's early branding. The qualities that established his reputation remain, but are subsumed in a broader approach that makes Guitars Two deserving of a place alongside Pat Metheny's New Chautauqua (ECM, 1979), Bill Frisell's Ghost Town (Nonesuch, 2000) and Joe Pass' '70s Virtuoso series on Pablo', as a pinnacle of what can be done by one man and a handful of guitars".

He is considered the grandfather of Belgian jazz as he continues to play on the now very active Belgian jazz scene. He won the first Belgian Golden Django (in 1995) as best French-speaking artist.

Solo

• 1971: Stream (Warner Bros. – 46 149), with Giggs Whigham, Freddy Deronde, Freddy Rothier & Marc Moulin
• 1975: September man (Atlantic – 40 562), with John Lee, Gerry Brown, Jasper Van't Hof, Charlie Mariano & Palle Mikkelborg
• 1975: Guitars (Atlantic – 50193), solo guitar
• 1976: Nairam (Warner Bros. – BS 2950), with John Lee, Gerry Brown, Jasper Van't Hoff, Charlie Mariano & Palle Mikkelborg
• 1980: Babel (Elektra – ELK 52 244), with André Ceccarelli, Jannick Top, Patrick Orieux, Jean-Claude Petit & String Quartet
• 1982: End of August (Wea – K 58450), with Nicolas Fiszman, Charlie Mariano & Trilok Gurtu
• 1986: Transparence (in-akustik – inak 8701CD), with Hein Van de Geyn, Aldo Romano, Diederik Wissels & Michel Herr
• 1988: September Sky (Fever), with Tom Harrell, Hein van de Geyn & Aldo Romano
• 1988: Oscar (Igloo – IGL 060), trio with Hein Van de Geyn & Dré Pallemaerts
• 1990: I Remember You (Criss Cross – Criss 1048 CD), within 'Philip Catherine Trio' including Hein Van de Geyn & Tom Harrell
• 1992: Moods, Vol. I (Criss Cross – Criss 1060 CD), within 'Philip Catherine Trio' including Hein Van de Geyn & Tom Harrell
• 1992: Moods, Vol. II (Criss Cross – Criss 1061 CD), within 'Philip Catherine Trio' including Hein Van de Geyn & Tom Harrell
• 1997: Live (Dreyfus), with Bert Van den Brink, Hein Van de Geyn & Hans Van Oosterhout
• 1998: Guitar Groove (Dreyfus – FDM 36599-2), with Rodney Holmes, Alfonso Johnson & Jim Beard
• 2000: Blue Prince (Dreyfus – FDM 36614-2), with Hein Van de Geyn, Hans Van Oosterhout & Bert Joris
• 2002: Summer Night (Dreyfus – FDM 36637-2), with Philippe Aerts, Joost van Schaik & Bert Joris
• 2008: Guitars Two (Dreyfus)
• 2010: Concert in Capbreton (Dreyfus – FDM 46050 369412), with Enrico Pieranunzi, Joe Labarbera & Hein Van De Geyn
• 2011: Plays Cole Porter (Challenge), with Philippe Aerts, Karel Boehlee & Martijn Vink
• 2012: Côté Jardin (Challenge – CHR70178), with Nicola Andrioli, Antoine Pierre & Bassist Philippe Aerts
• 2014: New Folks (ACT), with Martin Wind (double bass)
• 2015: The String Project (ACT), live in Brussels

As co-leader

Trio with Charlie Mariano & Jasper Van't Hof

• 1974: Transistory (MPS 21 22099-0)
• 1974: Cascade (Keytone - KT 444 054)
• 1975: 15 (Horo)
• 1976: The Door Is Open (MPS - DC 228 754)
• 1979: Sleep My Love (CMP - LC 6055C)
• 1996: Operanoia (Intuition 3158)
• 2009: The Great Concert (Enja - 9532 2)

Duo with Larry Coryell

• 1977: Twin-House (Elektra – 6E-123)
• 1978: Splendid (Elektra – 6E-153)

Trio with Kenny Drew & Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen

• 1975: Morning (SteepleChase)
• 1977: In Concert (SteepleChase)
• 1983: And Far Away (Soul Note)

Trio with Larry Coryell & Joachim Kühn

• 1980: Live! (Elektra - ELK 52 232)

Trio with Didier Lockwood & Christian Escoude

• 1983: Trio (JMS – JMS 031)

Trio with Jean-Louis Rassinfosse & Chet Baker

• 1985: Crystal Bells (Igloo - IGL 034)

Duo with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen

• 1983: The Viking (Pablo – CD 2310-894)
• 1992: Spanish Nights (Enja – ENJ-7023 2)
• 1993: Art of the Duo (Enja 8016-2)

Duo with Bert Joris

• 2005: Meeting Colours (Dreyfus – FDM 36675-2)

Collaborations

With Lou Bennett & Jack Sels

• 1961: Jack Sels (IBC - 4C 054 97754)

With Jean-Luc Ponty

• 1971: Open Strings (MPS 15.343)

With Klaus Weiss

• 1971: I Just Want to Celebrate (BASF - 44 21247-5/1-2)
• 1971: Sunbirds (BASF - 20 21110-2)

With Jean-Luc Ponty & Stéphane Grappelli

• 1973: Ponty - Grappelli (America - 6139)

With Toots Thielemans

• 1974: Toots Thielemans/Philip Catherine & Friends (Keytone - DU 51 093)
• 1998: Chez Toots (Private Music - 0100 82160 2)

With Marc Moulin

• 1974: Placebo (Harvest - C064-95378)
• 1975: Sam' Suffy (CBS 80753)
• 2001: Top Secret (Blue Note - 07243 5371292 0)
• 2004: Entertainment (Blue Note - 072430866472 21)

With Peter Herbolzheimer

• 1974: Scenes (MPS 21-22284-5)
• 1976: Wide Open (MPS 21-21948-8)

With Karin Krog

• 1974: You Must Believe in Spring (MR5)

With Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen

• 1975: Jaywalkin' (Steeple Chase - SCCD 31041)
• 1976: Double Bass (Steeple Chase - SCS 1055)
• 1978: Live at Montmartre Vol. 1 (Steeple Chase - SCCD 31083)
• 1978: Live at Montmartre Vol. 2 (Steeple Chase - SCCD 31093)

With Rolf Kühn

• 1975: Total Space (MPS 20 22625-5ATL 50 280 b)

With John Lee & Gerry Brown

• 1975: Mango Sunrise (Blue Note - BN-LA541-G)

With Michael Gibbs

• 1975: The Only Chrome Waterfall Orchestra (Bronze - BR 201)

With Dexter Gordon Quartet

• 1975: Something Different (Steeple Chase Scs 1136)

With Passport

• 1975: Doldinger Jubilee '75 (Atlantic)

With Joachim Kühn

• 1976: Springfever (Atlantic - ATL 50 280 b)
• 1976: Hip Elegy (MPS DC 22 794-4)

With Focus

• 1976: Live at BBC (Hux050)
• 1978: Con Proby (Harvest ST-1721)

With Larry Coryell

• 1976: Twin House (Atlantic - 50 342)
• 1977: Back Together Again (WEA - WEA 50382)
• 1978: Splendid (Elektra - 52 986)

With Charles Mingus

• 1977: Three or Four Shades of Blue (Atlantic SD 1700)

With NDR

• 1977: Jazz Workshop (NDR)

With Carla Bley & Mike Mantler

• 1979: More Movies (Watt - 10A/1)

With Stéphane Grappelli

• 1979: Young Django (MPS 15510)
• 1992: Live (Birdology - 517392- 2)

With Zbigniew Seifert

• 1979: We'll Remember Zbiggy (Mood 24 500)

With Chet Baker

• 1983: Crystal Bells/Estate (Igloo - 034CD)
• 1985: There'll Never be Another You (Timeless)
• 1985: Chet's Choice (Criss Cross - 1016 CD)
• 1985: Strollin' (Enja - 5005CD)
• 1985: In Bologna (Dreyfus 191 133-2

With Aldo Romano

• 1983: Alma Latina (Owl - OWL 031)

With Jean-Claude Petit

• 1987: Salopes !! Vent De Panique (Milan – A 349)

With the European Jazz Ensemble

• 1989: Live at the Philarmonic, Köln (M.A Music - A 800-2)

With Maurane

• 1989: Maurane (Polydor - 939 159-2

With Freddie Deronde

• 1990: Spontaneous Effort (Igloo - IGL 081)

With Richard Galliano

• 1991: New Musette (Label Bleu - LBLC 6547 HM 83)

With Barney Wilen & Palle Danielsson

• 1991: Sanctuary (IDA 029C)
• 1993: Le Grand Cirque (Wan+Wan DK018 53029.2)

With Diederik Wissels & David Linx

• 1993: If One More Day (Les Disques du Crépuscule - TWI 970-2)

With Erkan Ogur

• 1993: Fretless (EFA CD 00714-2)

With Jacques Pelzer

• 1993: Salute to the Box (Igloo 106)

With Laila Dalseth

• 1995: A Woman's Institution (GMCD 87)

With Marcia Maria

• 1995: Passion (Igloo - IGL111)

With Ivan Paduart

• 1995: White Nights (A al 73061)

With Aziza Mustafa Zadeh

• 1996: Jazziza (Columbia - 487897 2)

With Baruti Trio @ 4

• 1996: Ndugu Yangu (Maîsha com 01)

With Emmanuel Bex & Aldo Romano

• 1998: Trio (Criss Cross)

With Robert Wyatt

• 1997: Shleep (Hanibal - HNCD 1418)

With Orion

• 1998: Orion (Keltia Musique - RSCD M 312)

With Enrico Pieranunzi

• 2000: Alone Together (Challenge - SACHR 75056)

With Joan Reinders

• 2000: Millenium Triangular Jazz Orchestra (A al 73199)

With Oliver Strauch

• 2000: Short Stories (Mons- MR 874-327)

With Julien Clerc

• 2003: Studio (Virgin - 72435 843632 7)

With Soledad

• 2006: Passage (Virgin)