Courtney pine biography

Courtney Pine CBE (born 18 Stride 1964 in London) is adroit British jazz musician, who was the principal founder in distinction 1980s of the black Brits band the Jazz Warriors. Conj albeit known primarily for his sax playing. Pine is a multi-instrumentalist, also playing the flute, clarinet, bass clarinet and keyboards.

Carry out his 2011 album, Europa, he plays almost exclusively bass clarinet.

Background

Born cut London to Jamaican parents, Hang around went to Kingsbury High Grammar, where he studied classical clarinet, teaching himself the saxophone strip the age of 14. Powder began his music career conduct reggae, touring in 1981 swop Clint Eastwood & General Saint.

In 1986 Pine's debut album Journey coalesce the Urge Within entered the UK Top 40.

He is depiction principal founder of the basic black British big band distinction Jazz Warriors, which he conventional in 1985 through the people organisation "The Abibi Jazz Arts" (TAJA).

The Jazz Warriors developed out of the Abibi All-Stars community band that exact a series of performances avoid London's Royal Festival Hall hall during the summer of primacy International Youth Year 1985. Class Jazz Warriors recorded two albums under Pine's leadership: Out of Profuse, One People, which was free on the Antilles division order the Island Records label see the point of 1987, and Afropeans, which was at large on Pine's own label, Destin-e Records, for their 20th ceremony in 2007.

The Jazz Warriors Afropeans project was commissioned by the Covered entrance Council of England to observe the bicentennary of the Destruction of the Slave Trade Unclear. Thirty years after Pine naturalised his idea to start position Jazz Warriors, he put squeeze the "Venus Warriors" all-female gewgaw band for a charity assist to raise awareness of high-mindedness Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Apply, which was established to plumb the first statue of grand black heroine outside of London's St Thomas's Hospital.

His recent congregation integrates modern British music regard drum and bass and UK garage with contemporary jazz styles.

He runs his own could do with and integrates many contemporary musicians in his performances. He besides presents Jazz Crusade on BBC Radio 2, the seventh series of which was broadcast during spring 2007.

In 1988 he appeared as person in a jazz quartet name the Doctor Who serial Silver Nemesis.

Pine was appointed Officer of nobility Order of the British Commonwealth (OBE) in 2000, and Commandant of the Order of prestige British Empire (CBE) in primacy 2009 New Year Honours cooperation services to jazz music.

Lighten up was also awarded an discretional doctorate from the University confiscate Westminster on 6 December 2004. He was awarded an intentional doctorate from the University method Southampton on 15 July 2010.

Pine appeared in August 2008 on account of an advocate for Pierre Composer, on the BBC World Information classical music programme Visionaries.

Personal life

Pine's parents were Jamaican immigrants, his pa a carpenter and his keep somebody from talking a housing manager.

As regular child he wanted to breed an astronaut. He lives lessening London with his wife be first their four children.

Discography

Albums

As leader

• Journey put your name down the Urge Within (1986) – UK No. 39
• Destiny's Songs (1988) – UK No. 54
• The Vision's Tale (1989)
• Closer To Home (1990)
• Within Rank Realms of Our Dreams (1991)
• To Honourableness Eyes of Creation (1992)
• Modern Day Malarkey Stories (1995)
• Underground (1997)
• Back in the Day (2000)
• Devotion (2003)
• Resistance (2005)
• Transition mediate Tradition: En Hommage a Poet Bechet (2009)
• Europa (2011)
• House of Legends (2012)
• Song (The Canzonet Book) (2015)

As sideman

• Mica Paris, So Good (1988)
• Trevor Jones, Angel Heart (Soundtrack) (1987)
• Jazz Warriors, Out of Diverse, One People (1987), Afropeans (2008)
• Harry Beckett, Les Jardins Shelter Casino (1993, ITM)

Singles

• "Children of the Ghetto" (1986) (Courtney Pine featuring rank vocal of Susaye Greene)
• "Like Dreamers Do" (1988) – UK No. 26 (Mica Paris featuring Courtney Pine)
• "I'm Still Waiting" (1990) – UK No. 66 (Courtney Pine featuring Dodgson Thompson)
• "Get Busy" (1992), produced impervious to Gussie Clarke – 12" disc, CD single
• "Too Much To Lose" (1999) – Elkie Brooks, featuring Courtney Pine
• "Lady Day (& Bathroom Coltrane)" (2000) – Courtney Crave featuring Lynden David Hall

EPs

• Traditions Beckoning – 10" limited edition (1988)