LIVE AT THE BERLIN JAZZBÜHNE FESTIVAL 1982

1st Edition limited to 2000 copies

52,00€

SIDE A

Janet

Babel

Crystal Bells

SIDE B

Little Nicolas - Big Nicolas

Air Power

Enfin of August

Transvested Express

2000 Copies

Check point Catherine

“In the afternoon we performed in a rather austere theatre in East Berlin. Then I remember we crossed Checkpoint Charlie that evening to play in a club in West Berlin. The atmosphere was completely different. I felt as though we were living in a black and white spy movie.” Nicolas Fiszman recalls that chaotic day of 13 June 1982. Two outstanding guitarists, Philip Catherine and Nicolas Fiszman, who at the time was only seventeen years old, were taken from one side of Berlin to the other in pouring rain to perform to unlikely audiences. At both concerts, they played the same programme of seven pieces written by Philip, with the exception of “Crystal Bells”, composed by Charlie Mariano. The pair were not master and student. Rather, Philip remembers Nicolas like a young brother he might have taken to the beach. After the 1960s, Philip became a major figure on the jazz scene, working with the greatest: Charles Mingus, Chet Baker, Stéphane Grapelli, Dexter Gordon, to name only a few. Nicolas has played with Charles Aznavour, Vanessa Paradis, Francis Cabrel and Eric Serra, and travels the world with Sting.

On that gloomy afternoon, the two guitarists, alone on stage, decided to brighten up the morosity that reigned. The pieces they played bore titles such as “Janet”, “Babel” and “Petit Nicolas”. It is hard to believe that this varied, well-constructed, polyphonic music was not entirely written down on paper. Philip says, “Nothing is written from beginning to end. I compose the themes and some harmonic bridges. Then we have a chord chart … and that’s it.” The foundations are written; inspiration, taste, fantasy and friendship do the rest. We feel as though we are taking a nonchalant walk through Rio or Miami. The concert is punctuated by thunderous applause.

For these brief minutes in that year 1982, the East Berliners were able to fly over their tightly closed borders.

We are privileged to have unearthed this unique concert where two outstanding artists bring together two cultures to create an intense blaze of happiness.

Philip Catherine, Guitar
Nicolas Fiszman, Guitar & Bass
With the kind authorization of the artists

Recorded at Volksbühne, Berlin Jazzbühne Festival, Democratic Republic of Germany, 13.VI.1982
STEREO ℗ 1982 DRA

33 rpm Lacquer-cuts: Kevin Gray
180g vinyl pressed at Optimal Media, Germany
New tip-on gatefold printed in Italy
1st edition limited to 2000 copies, hand numbered

AN UNEQUALLED KNOW-HOW

- Phoenix Mastering™ restoration from original analog tapes
- Lacquer-Cuts by Kevin Gray
- 180g test-pressings approving in our studios
- New Stampers every 500 copies
- Slow pressing cycle
- Unequalled quality control in Europe
- New Tip-on gatefold printed in Italy
- Pressed by Simon Garcia, in France 🇫🇷

DELIVERY & WARRANTY

We ship our products worldwide with the utmost care. In the event of any damage during transport, we undertake to replace, at our exclusive expense, any products.

Returns are accepted within 14 days of receipt of your order, however return costs are the responsibility of the customer.

VINYLE

PHILIP CATHERINE/NICOLAS FISZMAN

LIVE AT THE BERLIN JAZZBÜHNE FESTIVAL 1982

The story of this discovery

"It was during our research at the RBB that we were suggested to go to Potsdam where the recordings made in East Berlin, during the time of the Democratic Republic of Germany, had been stored. Later, we would also find there one of the tapes of the now famous Ella Fitzgerald concert of 1967 but also this exceptional concert by guitarist Philip Catherine and his then disciple, Nicolas Fiszman. This concert literally amazed us with its beauty of the themes, the harmonic colors, the creativity in the rhythm. The sound recording quality, for its part, is simply fabulous."

Frédéric D'ORIA-NICOLAS
Musical treasure seeker

Libération

“From the silky timbre of the diva assoluta, to the astonishing presence of the orchestra, these splendidly edited vinyl and CD box sets sound like a revelation.”

“Philip Catherine doesn’t play music. He is the music!” Le Monde