Philip Catherine
Guitars Two
Dreyfuss Jazz

Trio Sud
Young and Fine
Dreyfuss Jazz
By George W. Harris

Guitarist Philip Catherine made his name back in the 70s with his duet recordings with Larry Coryell; together, their session with violinist Stephane Grappelli (“Young Django”) is a classic. This time, Catherine decided to try someone even more sympathetic than Coryell, namely himself. He works out as a perfect partner. Accompanying himself on either acoustic, genteel electric, or on some electronic guitar devices, Catherine has put together an astoundingly gorgeous yet intricate palate of lyrical conversations. Most of the tunres ar self-penned as well, and have the bohemian beauty that can only be captured by a European. “Boise Le Baron” is delicate and coy, as “Toscane” is ethereal and misty. John Lewis’ “Skating in Central Park and Grappelli’s “Souvenirs De Villingen” have the charm of a child flying a kite on a April day in a Parisian park. This is how guitar music was meant to be played.

There was a time that I envisioned myself becoming an acoustic guitarist. The problem, as every aspiring guitarist knows, is that it’s very easy to play simple guitar, but then extremely difficult to get to the next step. So, I became a chiropractor!

Trio Sud, which consists of guitarist Sylvain Luc, bassist Jean-Marck Jafet and drummer Andre Ceccarelli, create the kind of acoustic guitar jazz that I dreamed of achieving, lacking in only inherent talent and discipline. These three gents make it seem so alarmingly easy. The facility in which they glide with sophistication through Stevie Wonder’s “Sweetest Somebody I Know” is breathtaking. They are able to drip with regret, as on “Darn That Dream” or go abstract and edgy, as on Wayne Shorter’s “Infant Eyes”. No matter the song, the empathetic interplay and telepathic shifting of roles throughout the entire disc is inspiring. Maybe if I can just find my old Martin….