Courtney Pine ‘Transition In Tradition’ Band

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Courtney Pine ‘Transition In Tradition’ Band – 20/11/08 Barbican, LJF

Thursday, 27 November 2008 11:27

After signing my ticket, Courtney Pine politely reminds me it’s “Time to go to work.” Determined to explore what jazz is, he does not seek to give us an answer, but rather present it to us in its various guises throughout the ages. The result is a whirlwind majestic tour of jazz, characterised by the career of Sidney Bechet, the New Orleanian who bought his first Saxophone in Baker Street.

The UK’s darling of jazz offers the crowd the branches that have sprung from the musical roots of creole New Orleans, the title of the opening piece. Others, Afropeans and Au Revoir, evoke pivotal moments of jazz past while also encompassing classical influence. As sojourns into swing, bebop and rag-time transpire, violinist Omar Puente delves into folk and Alex Wilson echoes Rubén González on the keys. The versatility of both Cameron Pierre's guitar and Robert Fordjour's drums are tested as if Pine’s experiments with the alto flute, bass clarinet and soprano sax weren’t enough.

The limit defying antics do sometimes conclude in duff screeches but that’s part of the fun. He manages to alter the direction of a composition in an instant, without relinquishing the unique skeleton. Using a range of pitch that is especially spellbinding, solo antiphony is fast becoming his signature sound.

One’s formative surroundings are always at the forefront of Courtney Pine’s ideas. The majority of the band herald from London, as he proudly informs us, hardly ironic at its own festival, “You may even see us at your local Sainsbury.” Such bathos does not pervade Darren Taylor’s ornate phrasing on bass, yet memories of him once throwing me out a practice room at school in order to start teaching a bass guitar lesson does distract me a bit. It seems that Pine’s fleeting conjecture is all too true.

At the set’s close, he mops the sweat from his brow, claiming to be “Just warming up.” He is entitled to plug the forthcoming release of ‘Transition In Tradition for he has displayed tireless devotion to his art and its heritage, and all in a days work.

Review – Daniel Merriman

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