Gig review: Courtney Pine

Published on Monday 3 August 2009 19:32

COURTNEY PINE – TRADITION IN TRANSITION *** QUEEN'S HALL, EDINBURGH

TWO decades on from his first forays to Scotland, Courtney Pine had set aside the various street fashions he has sported over the years and reverted to the suit and tie in which we first saw him (not the same one, obviously). The saxophonist cuts quite a patriarchal figure these days, and continues to draw big audiences.

His Tradition In Transition project is inspired by Sidney Bechet, the New Orleans-born pioneer of the soprano saxophone in jazz. Pine set aside his customary tenor entirely, and moved instead between soprano, bass clarinet and alto flute in the course of a long concert.

There was little that directly invoked Bechet's sound or style – it isn't that kind of tribute. Instead, it focused on Pine's characteristic celebration of diverse Black music traditions – jazz, funk, reggae, African music, and even an overt Middle-Eastern/Klezmer influence, notably on the enigmatically titled The Sound of Jazz?

The saxophonist defined his own approach a long time ago, and if he does get carried away with demonstrating his prowess on repetitive circular breathing rather too often, it remains a powerful, crowd-pleasing spectacle. The frenetic energy calmed when he took to the flute on the elegiac The Tale of Joe Harriott, but only briefly.

His excellent band featured gifted soloists in pianist Robert Mitchell, guitarist Cameron Pierre and violinist Omar Puente, while bassist Darren Taylor and drummer Robert Fordjour kept the energy meter firmly in the red zone.