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"Four Stars ... combines beautifully mutated grooves and softly jazzy themes with familiar echoes ... his drumming transforms the simplest melodies with hustling cymbal patterns and sudden galloping tom-tom spurts ... a delectable set." - The Guardian "... (Katché) finds his niche, supplies what’s required and gracefully stays out of the way ... proves a firm believer in and judicious user of quietude and roominess ... all along, Katché puts in timekeeper duty, generously tossing out a cymbal crash here and a snappy snare or hi-hat accent there ... cozily endearing in a late night mood sort of way ..." - JazzTimes.com "Four Stars ... Katché's strength as a writer is to create relatively clear and lyrical contexts for the quintet to interact, from the tender melancholy ... to the more upbeat and assertive ... a loose but unmistakable approach to rhythm that's unassailable but never heavy-handed ... like his bandmates, he's a thoughtful player without ever feeling overly considered ... Katché manages to imbue a kind of pop sensibility without resorting to shtick ... an outstandingly honest record and proves, yet again, that accessible music needn't be lightweight or predictable." - All About Jazz Famed drummer Manu Katché's ECM leader debut release Neighbourhood was so lavishly praised and awarded in 2005 it seemed a hard act to follow, yet Playground more than managed to live up to expectations in 2007. A continuation exploring similar areas, Katché has said this recording features more coherence and more ensemble togetherness, even as he allows himself to grab a bit more space for the drums.