Katia Labèque Band
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Pianist Katia Labéque established herself through a classical repertoire of a staggering 20 albums for a handful of major labels, performing in a duet with her sister Marielle, playing everything from flowery baroque to spiky 20th century works and improvisations.
Also a long time member of guitar legend John McLaughlin’s group she further cemented her reputation as a serious pianist, eventually meeting Miles Davis, who in tern was so impressed he penned a piece for her on his electro-funk classic ‘You’re Under Arrest’.
Now making her debut for funky French label Dreyfus with ‘Little Blue Girl’, Labéque is establishing herself as a premier league bandleader, performing with her new band of Dave Maric and Marque Gilmore in a sparkling new trio. Atmospheric, cinematic and compelling the Katia Labeque Band is another artist from the blooming ACT stable that weaves together jazz, electronic and contemporary classical music. Having toured the UK with keyboardist and composer Dave Maric, drummer Marque Gilmore and violinist Viktoria Mullova, she creates an emotionally charged landscape of sound – full of extreme dynamic mood swings, from wild, breathless rhythms to meditative layers of harmony and melody.