Courtney Pine plays the bass clarinet so brilliantly that it may now have overtaken the tenor saxophone as his main instrument. This programme of 10 duets with pianist Zoe Rahman makes the most of his wonderfully resonant tone, particularly in Ellington’s stately Come Sunday. The tempos may be slow, but there are moments of virtuosity that surpass anything I’ve ever heard on this difficult instrument. Mostly, though, the mood is lyrical and reflective, with Rahman’s full, sonorous chords enfolding the bass clarinet. This is a beautiful and deeply impressive piece of work by two of our finest players.
