CD: Courtney Pine – Europa | reviews, news & interviews
CD: Courtney Pine – Europa
CD: Courtney Pine – Europa
Pine debuts (and dazzles) on bass clarinet in this European adventure
A jazz concept album exploring the historical origins of Europe. No, not the synopsis of a new Christopher Guest film – although how I'd love to see Fred Willard in that - but an ambitious, far-reaching new recording from sax maestro Courtney Pine. Except, Courtney doesn't play any sax at all.
Pine is a musician who is constantly searching for new expressive possibilities, and Europa delights in paying homage to, and making new connections between, an array of musical styles. The album's lead-off track, “The Tale of Romulus and Remus”, articulates this approach most clearly. Beginning as a rather stately duet between bass clarinet and Alec Dankworth's bowed bass, it jump cuts to a behemothic groove laid down by drummers Mark Mondesir and Robert Fordjour, coupled with pianist Zoe Rahman's pounding (and rather Massive Attack-like) ostinato.
Elsewhere, we're treated to the plaintive melodic beauty of the title track - featuring one of several surging, transporting solos from Pine - the ludic metrical games of “Deuteronomy” and “Greek Fire”, and the brilliantly varied textural palette of “Folk Song No 7”. This last-mentioned track sees a first outing for the Dube, a percussion instrument (similar to the cajón) invented by the ex-England international footballer Dion Dublin. Best of all is the beautifully paced ballad “The First Flower of Spring (February 1856) – for Mary Seacole”, a tribute to the Jamaican nurse and Crimean War heroine, whose Impressionistic reverie lingers long in the memory.
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