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5 – Goudvis: Philip Catherine, The Road to Helsinki
Belgium

There may be something like a Belgian school of jazz guitarists, starting with Django Reinhardt (1910–1953) via René Thomas (1927–1975) to end – for the time being - with Philip Catherine (°1942). After his debut at a very early age Philip Catherine soon started playing with the leading Belgian jazz players of a previous generation as well as with the most talented musicians of his own generation. He acquired international fame through his work with amongst others the violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, the bass player Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Stéphane Grappelli and such Americans as Charles Mingus and especially Chet Baker. The past decade has seen him as the leader of various formations with among others the bass player Philippe Aerts and trumpet player Bert Joris. He has also produced an album with the Brussels Jazz Orchestra. In recent years he has given concerts as a solo artist and made recordings where he ingeniously accompanied himself by means of electronics. Philip Catherine combines a rather lyrical temperament with a very strong expressivity. Apart from that, he has a wonderful personality with both a special sense of humour and an endearing charm combining a surprising depth and unpredictability.