Brighton's best... |
Courtney Pine...
review Courtney Pine?The first reaction from some of my friends when I told them I was going to see Courtney Pine was "Is that a kind of wardrobe?". Fortunately for Mr. Pine, he's very un-wardrobe like. Recently voted one of the top ten most influential black Britons, he's one of the leading proponents of British jazz, with his distinctive brand of high-energy saxophone winning him many fans. Having never been to a live jazz gig, I was a little unsure of what to expect. I was thinking I'd enter a smoky room, with the music being quietly appreciated by hardcore jazz devotees dressed in skin-tight black polo necks. Fortunately I found out that floor-stomping awe-inspiring British jazz is alive and well. The opening act, Rodrigo y Gabriela (a man/woman combo from Mexico), served as an inviting appetizer with their acoustic guitar-led set. It was amazing the range of sounds they managed to produce, and though unaided by technical trickery you could swear they had a whole drum kit and backing group hiding somewhere. The height of the audience's approval was for a delicious Latin flavoured number that prompted impromptu flamenco dancing in front of the stage. Satisfied they had succeeded in getting people in the mood and on their feet, the set ended with an inspired version of Dave Brubeck's 'Take Five'. By the time Courtney came on (wearing a rather natty canary yellow outfit) with his band, the crowd were in an increasingly 'lively' mood. They wasted no time in treating us to a hi-octane jazzy number, with lots of sax solos from the man himself. Unbelievably there wasn't a break in the music for a good hour. From the start they gave the impression they really wanted to be there. Courtney was on top form. At his peak his fingers were just a blur, and he was belting out notes almost faster than we could take them in. I couldn't find the tune anywhere amongst the notes, no matter which way he organised themThe talent this guy has is astonishing, although there were a couple of moments where he got so carried away that I couldn't find the tune anywhere amongst the notes, no matter which way he organised them. All good fun though, and it really got the crowd in the mood. I'd never seen anyone ska dancing to jazz before (Brighton crowds eh? Ain't they the best!). The backing musicians were equally energetic, with the trombone player (a certain Cameron Deal) in particular standing out for his masterful skill in making the trombone a lead instrument, and also for his very mobile hips! He even managed to play the trombone in harmony with himself (nope, no idea how he did it), all the time waving his instrument over the heads of the people on the front row. How rude that sounds now. Although he tended to play the straight sax for the smooth numbers, Courtney never seemed happier than when he was playing the alto sax to within an inch of its life, showing breath control that would, were anyone else to try it, land them in A&E on lots of beepy machines. Elsewhere, nods to well known classics in the shape of 'Sweet Like Chocolate' and Michael Jackson's 'Human Nature' were given a refreshing jazz twist, satisfying an already won over crowd. All in all Courtney's set showcased smooth, funky numbers as well as the lively ones with notes stretched and ad-libbed to the hilt. But none were better than when Courtney and his trombone partner in crime dueled with each other, the soft immediacy of the trombone complimenting the trill energy of the sax perfectly. For more on Courtney Pine go to www.courtneypine.co.uk and for more Concorde 2 gigs check out the listings on this site or go to www.concorde2.co.uk.
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