Courtney Pine – Journey To The Urge Within

Solid debut from one of the most talent 80´s UK jazz saxophonists. As he recalls, Rollins or Coltrane were his most inspirations. Yes somethimes reminds them, but I like his power or drive to find his own style. As usual for that stage of evolution is important which kind of musicians are around in the group. Julian Joseph should have more space... Despite some heterogeneous moments (many styles in short tracks), there is interesting music and songs. Ambitious originals offers Pine composition potential, well documented by group feeling ( including vocal parts ) and improvisations. The result is not essential, but promising and worth to discover. My light as papper pressing has some distortion on A side, but not so important. The sound reflects rising digital era with highlighted edges of frequency spectrum. Recommended.

Enjoyed this. It's very well mastered and pressed but the content is a bit odd. There's very little musical narrative beginning to end and feels like a collection of ideas rather than something fully-formed. Some real high points and almost the same amount of "meh" moments which de-escalate it from potential great album to one you're happy to listen to and recommend but stop it reaching any "best of" lists. Still worth an hour of anyone's time imo.