New Releases : Sensitivity a Stranger to Courtney Pine : ** 1/2 : COURTNEY PINE; “Within The Realms of Our Dreams”; <i> Antilles</i>

Described in the liner notes as “Britain’s first major jazz artist of African descent,” Pine has arranged two traditional African themes, composed four originals, borrowed from the bop era for Miles Davis’ “Donna Lee” (it’s wrongly credited on the album to Charlie Parker) and dipped into the Ornette Coleman repertoire for “Una Muy Bonita,” engagingly blending saxophone and piano.

Should producer Delfeayo Marsalis have offered saxophonist Pine some tranquilizers? Restraint and Pine are almost total strangers, as we clearly hear from the exercise-like lines, the long strings of eighth notes sans dynamic variety, the unbridled use of technique and velocity on both soprano and tenor saxes.

Too often he plays as if being paid by the note. On “Delfeayo’s Dilemma,” Pine is under better control. In general, he could learn a lot by studying the sensitivity of his pianist, Kenny Kirkland. The rhythm section--fleshed out by Charnett Moffett on bass and Jeff Watts on drums--is a buoyantly effective component throughout. The overall impact of the album is of more interest for the diversified material than for Pine’s execution.