CD Review: Courtney Pine - Song (The Ballad Book)

Courtney Pine (bass clarinet); Zoe Rahman (pno).
(Review by Lance).

I was unsure if 52 minutes of bass clarinet and piano would hold my interest and there were moments when my attention wandered but not many. Pine has never been less than a forward thinker and although numbers such as Amazing Grace may seem a far cry from the angry young man of the 1980s who leaped into prominence as part of the Jazz Warriors Pine is respectful of the source without disguising his own identity. Even Duke's Come Sunday which opens with a hint of pet shop arson mellows sufficiently to avoid any accusations of sacrilege. In an album with many excellent tunes it is to CP's credit that the most lyrical one is his own composition - Song!

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square has a rather wonderful solo from Rahman who is an absolute tower of strength throughout, both solo-wise and in support, feeding Pine with the perfect amount of stimulus.

This is a musical marriage that works.

The tour which began in February at Southampton in February ends up in St. Helier on July 31.

It hits our region in May:

Alnwick Playhouse (May 2); Middlesbrough Town Hall (May 4); Pocklington Arts Centre (May 5); Kendal Brewery Arts Centre (May 6) and May 24 goes to Carnegie Hall (Dunfermline).

Other tracks are: Beatrice; A Child is Born; One Last Cry; Through the Fire and Someday We'll All be Free. 

Courtney Pine - Song (The Ballad Book) was released on March 16 on Destin - E Records 777102468X.

Check out sample.

Lance.