On his fourth ECM disc - the eponymously-titled album, Manu Katché - the great French-Ivorian drummer's unique playing sets the scene and direction, with compositions and arrangements radiating outward from its rhythm-patterns. His strongly propulsive yet relaxed groove is unlike any other drummer's, and it lifts up his soloists.

Personnel in the ever-changing Katché band currently includes Norwegians trumpeter Nils Petter Molvær and saxophonist Tore Brunborg, first heard together on ECM in the band Masqualero in the 1980s: they still play most attractively together. British keyboardist Jim Watson also makes a strong showing with minimalistically-insistent as well as lyrical piano and thick, swirling organ. The album - the first Katché has made without a bass player - was recorded in March 2012 in the South of France, and is issued on the eve of a major European tour that will take in London next January.

Born in Paris and originally a pianist - on the present album he pays solo piano on "Dusk on Carnon" - Katché switched to percussion while studying at the Paris Conservatory. His distinctive drum style is derived from classical snare drum and kettledrum studies as well as from a conscious embracing of African roots. His work with Peter Gabriel on the album So and, subsequently on the Amnesty International World tour with Gabriel, Sting and Tracey Chapman catapulted him to world attention and he was soon recording and/or touring with Joni Mitchell, Robbie Robertson, Dire Straits, Simple Minds, Youssou N'Dour, Joan Armatrading, Joe Satriani and dozens more.

His ECM affiliations include recordings with Jan Garbarek, amongst them: I Took Up The Runes, Twelve Moons, Visible World, In Praise of Dreams, and the live album Dresden. Katché's first leader date for the label, Neighbourhood (9869815), was recorded in 2004, with Playground (1737321) following in 2007, and Third Round (2732131) in 2010.

Personnel: Manu Katché (drums, piano solo on Dusk On Carnon), Jim Watson (piano, Hammond B3 organ), Nils Petter Molvaer (trumpet, loops), Tore Brunborg (tenor and soprano saxophones)