Courtney Pine

Courtney Pine
Background information
Born (1964-03-18) 18 March 1964
Origin London, England
Genres Jazz
Instruments Saxophone, Clarinet, bass Clarinet, Flute, EWI, keyboard
Years active 1986–present

Courtney Pine CBE (born 18 March 1964 in London) is a British jazz musician, who was the principal founder in the 1980s of the black British band the Jazz Warriors. Although known primarily for his saxophone playing. Pine is a multi-instrumentalist, also playing the flute, clarinet, bass clarinet and keyboards. On his 2011 album, Europa, he plays almost exclusively bass clarinet.[1]

Background

Born in London to Jamaican parents, Pine went to Kingsbury High School, where he studied classical clarinet, teaching himself the saxophone from the age of 14.[2] He began his music career playing reggae, touring in 1981 with Clint Eastwood & General Saint.[3]

In 1986 Pine's debut album Journey to the Urge Within entered the UK Top 40.[4] He is the principal founder of the seminal black British big band the Jazz Warriors, which he established in 1985 through the community organisation "The Abibi Jazz Arts" (TAJA).[5] The Jazz Warriors developed out of the Abibi All-Stars community band that did a series of performances at London's Royal Festival Hall foyer during the summer of the International Youth Year 1985. The Jazz Warriors recorded two albums under Pine's leadership: Out of Many, One People, which was released on the Antilles division of the Island Records label in 1987, and Afropeans, which was released on Pine's own label, Destin-e Records, for their 20th anniversary in 2007.[6] The Jazz Warriors Afropeans project was commissioned by the Arts Council of England to commemorate the bicentennary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act.[7] Thirty years after Pine planted his idea to start the Jazz Warriors, he put together the "Venus Warriors" all-female jazz band for a charity performance[8] to raise awareness of the Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal,[9] which was established to erect the first statue of a black heroine outside of London's St Thomas's Hospital.

His recent music integrates modern British music like drum and bass and UK garage with contemporary jazz styles. He runs his own band and integrates many contemporary musicians in his performances. He also presents Jazz Crusade on BBC Radio 2, the seventh series of which was broadcast during spring 2007.

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

Pine was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2000, and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours for services to jazz music.[10] He was also awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Westminster on 6 December 2004. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Southampton on 15 July 2010.

Pine appeared in August 2008 as an advocate for Pierre Boulez, on the BBC World News classical music programme Visionaries.[11]

Personal life

Pine's parents were Jamaican immigrants,[12] his father a carpenter and his mother a housing manager. As a child he wanted to be an astronaut. He lives in London with his wife and their four children.[13]

Discography

Albums

As leader

As sideman

Singles

EPs

See also

References

  1. ↑ Burrell, Ian (12 November 2010). "Courtney Pine – 'I became one of the most hated saxophonists of all time' (interview)". The Independent. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  2. ↑ Maya Jaggi, "Fusion visionary", The Guardian, 30 September 2000.
  3. ↑ "Courtney Pine: The Cosmic Dread", BBC World Service, 8 March 2001.
  4. ↑ Courtney Pine interview by Pete Lewis, Blues & Soul, May 2008.
  5. ↑ Jazz Warriors (1987). Out of Many, One People, Antilles Records AN8712
  6. ↑ "Courtney Pine Jazz WarriorsAfropeans". www.courtneypine.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
  7. ↑ http://www.allaboutjazz.com/jazz-warriors-afropeans-by-ian-patterson.php
  8. ↑ "Courtney Pine presents Venus Warriors | HIDEAWAY – London's premier live music and comedy club". www.hideawaylive.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
  9. ↑ "MARY SEACOLE MEMORIAL STATUE APPEAL". Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  10. ↑ "No. 58929". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2008. p. 8.
  11. ↑ Visionariesdebate.com
  12. ↑ "Profile: Courtney Pine". BBC News. 31 December 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  13. ↑ Philby, Charlotte (8 August 2009). "My Secret Life: Courtney Pine, jazz musician, 45". The Independent. London. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  14. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 426. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  15. ↑ Courtney Pine and his Band, Nova Concerts International, 15 February 2011.
  16. ↑
  17. ↑
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