With this line-up, Katché compensates for the lack of legends with an even stronger emphasis on group interplay to bring out more of the deep lyricism of his compositions. This is demonstrated well on "Pieces Of Emotion," where there's little improvision.
Seim's solo turn hardly strays from the main melodic line, but that's sort of the point. Going off into skronking would have distracted against the simple melodic beauty of Katché's songs, so in here and throughout, they wisely pick and choose their spots to improvise.
"Morning Joy" really shows the maturity of Katché's compositional skills; it begins with a rhythm less, lovely sorrowful theme, moves into a more upbeat, mid-tempo middle section and segues back to the initial segment at the end.
But even that piece is surpassed by the somber "Project 58," which reveals itself gradually and finds each member of the band contributing equally to the two main motifs presented. Katché propels the whole songs with his steady rhythm and flourishes in the right spots.
It's not all chamber jazz, though. "So Groovy" is quicker paced and the leader is putting in some monster fills during the head, while Eick's trumpet solo rises above his usual relaxed tone but no less contemplative. "Snapshot" is a softer, but steadier groove, which both Seim and Wasilewski ride on top of for effective solos.
The advanced textural guitarist David Torn makes an appearance on the bookend tracks, "Lo" and "Song For Her (var.)" but don't expect to hear him unless you listen closely, his contributions here are just atmospherics in the background.
I was excited to learn that he was on this album and a little disappointed to discover that he didn't make his presences known better. But there's plenty consolation in finding that the record didn't really need him, after all.
Manfred Eicher saw in Manu Katché a perfect conduit for that classic ECM aesthetic. Two times out and Katché has on both occasions delivered a couple of the best ECM records in recent years, Torn's own superb Prezens notwithstanding.
With Playground, however, he did it without reliance on big names and still matched the quality of Neighbourhood. With a solid template for success established, I'd bet heavily that when Katché records his next album, he will have pulled off a hat trick.
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