Keep (it) Swinging: Philip Catherine plays Cole Porter

Sincerily, magic, lyricism.
Catherine, ein sensibler Poet des instruments (= Catherine, a sensible poet on his instrument)! (quote: Alexander Schmitz in Jazzgitaristen)
Hans Koert

Philip Catherine plays Cole Porter (English) Philip Catherine speelt de muziek van Cole Porter (Nederlands)

Last month the latest album by Belgian guitar player Philip Catherine has been released by Challenge Records. It is fully dedicated to the well known songwriter and composer Cole Porter, who passed away almost 50 years ago. Philip Catherine is accompanied by Karel Boehlee one of the finest pianists I know, Hein Van de Geyn writes in the liner notes; Philppe Aerts, who is Philip's regular bass player and Martijn Vink drums.

Philip Catherine (photo courtesy: Hans Koert)
Sincérité, magic, lyrisme ... Quelle chance pour Cole Porter d'être sous les doigts d'or de Philip Catherine! J'attend mon tour.(= Sincerity, magic, lyricism ... How lucky for Cole Porter to be in the golden hands of Philip Caterine! I will wait till it's my turn ) ( Vladimir Cosmac - Romanian composer - Paris, 1st of January, 2011) (quote: liner notes)

Philip Catherine plays Cole Porter (Challenge CHR70166) (sleeve design: Marcel Van Den Broek)
Philip Catherine, born in London in October 1942, started his career in the 1960s in Brussels in venues like the Rose Noire, where he performed with musicians like Jack Sels and Fats Sadi and developed during these 50 years in music as a sought after accompanist and performer. I love his music and the way he plays the guitar. One of his last records, his solo album Guitars Two , has been reviewed here and I joined several concerts in which he participated with musicians like the May 2010 concert with Bert Van Den Brink.

Philip Catherine (photo courtesy: Hans Koert)
Cole Porter wrote more then one thousand songs, Hein Van de Geyn informs us in the liner notes, but only the less known, not yet overplayed compositions, have been selected. In 2010 when I still lived in Europe, Philip would come to my house and we would go through many of Cole Porter's songs. Thirteen songs were selected and eleven tunes were used for the album.

The members of the band: f.l.t.r.: Philip Catherine - Karel Boehlee - Philippe Aerts - Martijn Vink (photo courtesy: Jackie LePage) (source: album Philip Catherine plays Cole Porter)
Cole Porter (1891-1964) was one of the outstanding composers and lyricists of the 20th century. Some million sellers he composed were: I Love Paris - Night and Day - I Love You Samantha - Begin the Beguine - Too Darn Hot - What is this Thing Called Love - Anything Goes and In the Still of the Night. Philip Catherine and Phiippe Aerts ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)
Some of the tunes selected are well known, but

never boring, like From This Moment On or In The Still of the Night. The tune Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love, to be found on the album as track 7 is the first Cole Porter composition that became a theatre hit in the 1928 play with songs Paris. The final track Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye dates from the 1940s and was part of the Broadway-play Seven Lively Arts. It was recorded by all great jazz musicians of the second part of the 20th century, like Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Sonny Rolling, Stan Kenton, John Coltrane and, last but not least, Philip Catherine. Don't ask me what tracks are my favourites, as I really don't know. Philip's guitar and Karel's piano make these tunes timeless and a great album to have in your collection.
The album Philip Catherine plays Cole Porter (Challenge CHR70166) can be ordered at the Challenge website.
Hans Koert
keepswinging@live.nl

The latest album of Philip Catherine once more proves what a great guitar player he is ............ To be honest, the title .. plays Cole Porter first got on my nerves ... oh no, not another "plays/sings ....", like the numerous meant for the best ... plays/sings Cole Porter albums ( Frank Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald or Dionne Warwick or ...) with overplayed songs, tributes to this great composer. But when I played myself this new Philip Catherine album I was convinced that this one was more then just .... a tribute to. As Vladimir Cosma says in the liner notes: How lucky for Cole Porter to be in the golden hands of Philip Catherine! A timeless document! Keep Swinging loves to point you to this kind of albums that will become classics. No buts about it! If you won't miss its contributions, please follow the Keep Swinging blog at Twitter (#keepswinging) or ask for its free newsletter ( keepswinging@live.nl )