Manu Katché

Some musicians defy classification, for fear of disturbing the fainthearted. Manu Katché has this gift, being capable of combining all influences and adapting to all styles.

Having initially received classical training, Manu’s « Katché sound » makes his drumming unique to the ears of informed music lovers. That same drumming was to lead him away from classic, to jazz then to pop-rock. In no time at all, there he was, a stage and studio musician, alongside great French names: Goldman, Souchon, Chedid, Catherine Lara, Michel Jonasz but his career really took off thanks to Peter Gabriel, who asked him to perform drums for the album « So ». Noticed by the stars of pop-rock, he would go on to perform and record for Joni Mitchell, Sting, Dire Straits, Tears for Fears, The Christians, Robbie Robertson, Joan Armatrading, Paul Young, Tracy Chapman, Youssou N’Dour, Pino Danielle, Simple Minds, Joe Satriani, Richard Wright yet without turning his back on his French-speaking peers, since he also made time for Véronique Sanson, Francis Cabrel, Laurent Voulzy, Stephan Eicher, Michel Petrucciani…

Acclaimed and rewarded, both as an outstanding musician and a talented composer (3 « Victoire de la Musique” awards in 86, 87 and 96, « Best coming up drummer of the year » in 86 by « Modern Drummer », “Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres” in 2004…), he has never lost sight of his first love: jazz.