Philip Catherine

Philip Catherine

Source: Focus Collection

Born on 27 October 1942 in London, guitarist, Philip Catherine, was English on his mother's side, Belgian on his father's. He was transplanted to Brussels as a youth where he began guitar lessons as an adolescent inspired by French guitarist, George Brassens, and studying Django Reinhardt as he acquired gigs. Catherine's own website states his first recording to have been Reinhardt's 'Nuages' in 1958 for Philips Records. That would have made him age fifteen. Other sources give 1959 or 1960. Catherine was supposedly age 17 when he performed the tune at the finale of the Volkswagen Grand Prix de Belgique. The Grand Prix de Belgique is thought to have been held in June of both 1958 and 1960, but was canceled in 1959. The Lord's Disco date of May 1960 for 'Nuages' makes Catherine seventeen years of age. Finding nothing that supports a 1958 recording date, while information at AmourduRollnRoll also points to 1960, tentatively makes 1960 the year of Catherine's first recording to see issue, which Discogs has on Philips 14027 in 1960 titled 'Finale du Grand Prix de Belgique des Varietes'.

At age eighteen Catherine toured Europe with Lou Bennett. In September of 1961 he recorded another discographical ball of wires with Bennett and Jack Sels per titles like 'On Stage', 'Black Velvet', 'African Dance' and 'Blues for a Blonde'. Discogs would appear to want those on Delahay EP 14028 (no date) prior to the 1966 issue of 'The Sexy Sax of Sels & Swinging Friends' including other titles from that session. Those were issued on LP again in 1967 as 'Sax Appeal' (Relax 30004) and 1976 as 'Jack Sels' on IBC (4C 054 97754).

Not until titles with the Lou Bennett Quartet in October of 1961 does one arrive to fairly certain dating, that in 1962 for RCA per 45cat: 'Last Night', 'Salut les Copains' and 'After Hours' ('Apres l'heure'). More titles with Sels with enigmatic issue dates continued to circa 1966 ('She's in the News' found on 'The Complete Jack Sels 2' per Vogel 102-AS in either 1978 or 1980). Some would be found on 'The Complete Jack Sels' (Vogel 101-AS) in 1973. Titles with Bennett had followed to October of 1966 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, for such as 'Guess What' and 'I Should Care'.

In 1968 Catherine issued 'Slop' and 'Grelots' for NMC Records (two tracks by Les Dixieland Gamblers on the first side). Catherine issued his first LP in 1971 called 'Stream', backed by pianist, Marc Moulin. By that time he was prepared to surface as a world-class jazz guitarist. In December of 1971 Catherine recorded 'Open Strings' with Jean-Luc Ponty in Villingen, Germany, apparently issued that year. December of 1973 found them in Paris recording 'Ponty - Grappelli' with violinist, Stephane Grappelli. Data below is gleaned from Discogs and Lord's Disco.

Accelerating Catherine's career in the early seventies was upright bassist, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (NHOP). They are thought to have first recorded together in Blaricum, Holland, in August of 1973 in Peter Herbolzheimer's Rhythm Combination & Brass toward 'Wide Open'. NHOP would be one of the most important of Catherine's comrades into the nineties, both backing other ensembles together and supporting each other. The first that Catherine backed NHOP was on September 9, 1975, for 'Jaywalkin'. NHOP contributed to Catherine's 'Spanish Nights' in May of 1989. In 1991 they recorded 'The Art of the Duo'.

Several months after Catherine's first encounter with NHOP he joined pianist, Marc Moulin, in February for the latter's 'Placebo 1974'. That was followed by 'Sam' Suffy' in December. Catherine appeared on Moulin's 'Top Secret' in 2001.

Another major figure in Catherine's career was pianist, Jasper Van't Hof. Their first occasion to record together was with another important figure, American saxophonist, Charlie Mariano, who had moved to Europe in 1971. That was for the latter's 'Cascade' in March of 1974. The next the three of them got together was May of 1974 for Van't Hof's 'Transitory' with Pork Pie. Come Catherine's 'September Man' in August that year. Mariano, Van't Hof and Catherine worked numerously together into the nineties. The last all three of them got together is thought to have been in Belgium in 1996 with Pork Pie for 'Operanoia'.

Another American musician who had moved to Europe was pianist, Kenny Drew, in 1961. Albums by Drew to which Catherine contributed were 'Morning' (1975), 'In Concert' (1977) and 'And Far Away' (1983). Drew gave Catherine a hand on the latter's 'Spanish Nights' in 1989.

Another major figure in Catherine's career was guitarist, Larry Coryell. Coryell lived in the States but toured Europe often. He also hosted Catherine on the latter's tours to the States. They are thought to have first laid tracks in London as a duo in 1976 for 'Twin-House'. They bounced back and forth for a few years holding sessions with other ensembles when not working on Coryell's projects both in Europe and the United States. They performed together at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1978. Among their last recordings together was for Stephane Grappelli's 'Young Django' in Stuttgart, Germany, in January of 1979, that with NHOP.

Among other American musicians Catherine hosted on their tours to Europe was trumpeter, Chet Baker. On May 25, 1983, Catherine joined Baker's Trio with Michel Graillier (piano) and Riccardo Del Fra (bass) to record 'Father X-Mas' for Baker's album, 'Mr. B'. Ensuing tours resulted in numerous sessions with Baker's outfits to October 25 of 1985 for a duo issued as 'There'll Never Be Another You'. Baker would see Catherine again in Paris in February of 1988 for Jan Erik Vold's 'Blamann! Blamann!'.

February of 1990 saw Catherine participating in the soundtrack for 'Daddy Nostalgie' with Jane Birkin. The was released as 'These Foolish Things' in the United Kingdom.

Catherine commenced the 21st century w 'Triangular' gone down on 19 & 29 February of 2000 in Barchem, Holland. He followed that on 13 & 15 June with titles toward 'Blue Prince' assisted by trumpeter Bert Joris, bassist, Hein van de Geyn and drummer, Hans Van Oosterhout. Deeper into the new millennium Catherine produced 'The String Project' in 2015, a live album recorded in Flagey, Brussels, on 13 Jan that year. As of this writing, Catherine's most recent of above twenty albums as a leader was 'Manoir de Mes Rêves' in 2019 w Paulo Morello and Sven Faller.

Among others with whom Catherine has recorded were Chris Hinze, Toots Thielemans and Bjorn Thoroddsen. Catherine had long made Belgium his center of operations where he yet performs as of this writing.