Track Listing

1. Prelude - The Water Of Life
2. The 37th Chamber
3. Don't 'Xplain
4. Dah Blessing
5. In The Garden Of Eden
6. Creation Stepper
7. Absolution
8. Each One
9. The Unknown Warrior
10. I've Known Rivers
11. Guiding Light (Outro)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #57213 in Music
• Released on: 1996-01-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds
• Running time: 59 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Nominated for the Mercury Prize, (which it deserved to win--but hey, that's competitions for you) Modern Day Jazz Stories is the album that first saw Courtney Pine incorporate sampling into his music, including DJ Pogo as part of his small group. Linking up with Giles Peterson's Talkin Loud label, the resulting sparks burned bebop into hip-hop, saxophone solos with drum & bass beats. It is still, however, very much a jazz album, but one like all the best jazz before it which draws in influences from elsewhere in the music world. Standout tracks include the beautiful "The 37th Chamber" (the title of which is bizarrely taken from a kung fu film) and "I've Known Rivers". The latter, released as a single, and a minor hit for Pine, features the husky vocals of Cassandra Wilson, who is also to be heard on a wonderful cover of Billie Holiday's "Don't Explain". Modern Day Jazz Stories: it does exactly what it says on the cover. --Phil Brett

Customer Reviews

Fantastically sexy album
I was first introduced to Courtney Pine by an ex boyfriend, and what an album to be seduced by. I was immediatly smitten by Courtney's saxophone and the way he combines it with many musical influences from around the world. To hear and see him playing this album live in Camden's Jazz Cafe was unworldly. What can I say except truely fantastic.

chilled
i bought this on a whim- and boy its good. really relaxed with varied sounds, good drumming and not too much of that typical messy jazz, much more smooth, i love it- well done mr pine

Get ready to stand and deliver
The master of urban jazz does it again. I was introduced to Mr.Pine's world a couple of years ago, and that was the beginning of my love of urban jazz. This album remind me of Another Story, which echoes jazz and dope hip hop to the max. This is an essential find for any who enjoy chilling anytime, anyplace, anywhere (preferably on the London Underground).