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Product Description
Review
Since Courtney Pine burst into the public consciousness with his debut, Journey to the Urge Within, in 1986, he’s inhabited a number of overlapping personae: from neo-con hard-bop young lion to respected broadcaster and CBE. For a British jazz musician, he’s enjoyed unrivalled chart success and a consistently high profile bordering on ‘national treasure’ status.
In the 1990s, albums such as Modern Day Jazz Stories diverted a lot of energy into attempting to tap into the contemporary urban sounds of hip hop and jungle, with varying success. So, purists will welcome this album’s return to jazz. Apart from a couple of (mercifully brief) bursts of dated drum’n’bass rhythm, this is assured acoustic jazz, ranging from lush ballads to tempestuous post-bop, played by an all-star band including drummer Mark Mondesir, pianist Zoe Rahman and rising clarinettist Shabaka Hutchins. Still, there is an element of innovation, in that this is the first of Pine’s recordings in which he forgoes the saxophone completely and plays only bass clarinet: mining its rich, woody timbres, investigating overblown harmonics and frequently spinning out into lengthy, tumbling solos that owe more to John Coltrane’s diamond-hard intensity than the wonky genius of bass clarinet proselytiser, Eric Dolphy.
There’s an element of the exotic about his choice of horn that suits the album’s compositions, many of which conflate touches of middle-eastern music and Celtic reels with klezmer and jazz, creating a globetrotting hybrid reminiscent of Lloyd Miller’s ethno-jazz experiments. All this is done in the service of the album’s overarching concept – an attempt to examine African influences on the origins and development of the continent of Europe. And it has to be said, this is the project’s main failing, with lengthy but sloppy sleeve notes struggling to hold together a muddled story of ancient Egyptian priests, Moorish conquerors and Viking pygmies. Of course, we can overlook the spelling mistakes and sixth-form grammar but when Pine baldly states that Darwin’s Dream Deferred is "a bid to prove that Darwin’s concept on evolution was premature and incorrect" – with no qualification or explanation – one can’t help raising an eyebrow. Enough with the lectures already, Courtney.
--Daniel Spicer
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BBC Music Magazine, (Garry Booth), March 2011
(5 stars) Extraordinary project...augmenting the outstanding core quartet with sensational violinist Puente...Pine produces music that is vivid, rooted and totally absorbing.
The solo and ensemble interaction is superb; Pine is pin-sharp on wind and keyboards...sublime jazz suite of the highest order.
(4 stars) Splendid 13th album from the CBE-decorated doyen of British jazz...his new opus is an intoxicating, polyglot fusion.
The solo and ensemble interaction is superb; Pine is pin-sharp on wind and keyboards...sublime jazz suite of the highest order.
(4 stars) Splendid 13th album from the CBE-decorated doyen of British jazz...his new opus is an intoxicating, polyglot fusion.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
A very similar recording to his previous effort "Transition in tradition". Whilst that album concentrated on the roots of jazz dating back to its birth in New Orleans this album is centered around Mr Pine's travels around Europe.
Whilst I love the bass clarinet as an alternative instrument, a whole album of bass clarinet can start to sound a little to deep and slightly morose. There is a larger content of slower material on this album and with the addition of a Viola into the lineup,gives it a chamberish and mildly classical feel.
Negatives aside there are some great solos from Courtney and some very deep spiritual-like tunes." De kom fra nord" is one of the picks of the album which builds on a gentle opening and reaches its peak with the whole ensemble becoming deeply involved."Greek Fire" is probably the most exciting piece and the title speaks for itself really.
All in all a decent album but I prefer Courtney as a tenor player with a few of those rip-roaring solos of his. Give me "Modern day jazz stories" any day of the week but until Courtney dusts off his tenor sax then this will do just fine for me and most of his regular listeners also.
Buy with an open mind
Whilst I love the bass clarinet as an alternative instrument, a whole album of bass clarinet can start to sound a little to deep and slightly morose. There is a larger content of slower material on this album and with the addition of a Viola into the lineup,gives it a chamberish and mildly classical feel.
Negatives aside there are some great solos from Courtney and some very deep spiritual-like tunes." De kom fra nord" is one of the picks of the album which builds on a gentle opening and reaches its peak with the whole ensemble becoming deeply involved."Greek Fire" is probably the most exciting piece and the title speaks for itself really.
All in all a decent album but I prefer Courtney as a tenor player with a few of those rip-roaring solos of his. Give me "Modern day jazz stories" any day of the week but until Courtney dusts off his tenor sax then this will do just fine for me and most of his regular listeners also.
Buy with an open mind
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I am familiar with Modern Day Jazz Stories mentioned by another reviewer, and I too, consider that a marvellous album. However, here we see Courtney once again searching for new boundaries to break through playing a bass clarinet instead of sax.
Perhaps I have been in the fortunate position of seeing him play this material live (18th March) before hearing the album as many of the compositions on the album have been kept judicially short compared to the lengthy live workouts which were absolutely stunning. The music here represents influences that Courtney has experienced whilst on tour over the past years around Europe, and from a little beyond. The bass clarinet has a remarkable range, (I'm not sure of the number of octaves), in the correct hands, and Courtney has those hands. I find the music contained in this album overall exciting and uplifting, although there are some quiet sombre moments. If you want to hear a modern jazz composer at the top of his game, then give this album a spin, after all isn't experimentation what jazz is all about?
As a footnote, I was lucky enough to met the man after the show - what a humble, polite gent he was as well.
Perhaps I have been in the fortunate position of seeing him play this material live (18th March) before hearing the album as many of the compositions on the album have been kept judicially short compared to the lengthy live workouts which were absolutely stunning. The music here represents influences that Courtney has experienced whilst on tour over the past years around Europe, and from a little beyond. The bass clarinet has a remarkable range, (I'm not sure of the number of octaves), in the correct hands, and Courtney has those hands. I find the music contained in this album overall exciting and uplifting, although there are some quiet sombre moments. If you want to hear a modern jazz composer at the top of his game, then give this album a spin, after all isn't experimentation what jazz is all about?
As a footnote, I was lucky enough to met the man after the show - what a humble, polite gent he was as well.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Courtney Pines latest offering opens a new phase in his catalogue of works. He seems to have matured and is playing is sublime.
If you are expecting a FULL BLOWN TENOR SAX ALBUM, then you are going to be very disappointed. Like most master musicians, he is trying endlessly to push the music to a new level, and with this album he certainly does that.
Mr C has full control of whatever instrument he choses to blow, and as a multi-instrumentalist he certainly has control on this album. It takes you on a journey of musical tastes around Europe hence the title Europa, and you are being transported by Courtney on a musical carpet ride that takes you from the Far North to the Far South...
This album I would suggest is just the start with more spiritual journeys to come form the Horns of Mr C.
Buy it, sit back and be transported to the world of EUROPA!!
If you are expecting a FULL BLOWN TENOR SAX ALBUM, then you are going to be very disappointed. Like most master musicians, he is trying endlessly to push the music to a new level, and with this album he certainly does that.
Mr C has full control of whatever instrument he choses to blow, and as a multi-instrumentalist he certainly has control on this album. It takes you on a journey of musical tastes around Europe hence the title Europa, and you are being transported by Courtney on a musical carpet ride that takes you from the Far North to the Far South...
This album I would suggest is just the start with more spiritual journeys to come form the Horns of Mr C.
Buy it, sit back and be transported to the world of EUROPA!!
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