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Saxophonist Courtney Pine’s career is the embodiment of the dramatic transformation the British jazz scene has undergone over the last 20 years. His debut album, ‘Journey To The Urge Within’ in 1987, was the first serious jazz album to enter the British Top 40. This established Courtney Pine as a leading figure in the Bristish jazz scene and an inspiration to many young black musicians.
Representative of this success, in 1988 Courtney performed at Nelson Mandela’s 80th birthday concert in Wembley.
The latest release, ‘Transition in Tradition’, is Courtney’s 12th studio album and his debut on his own label Destin-e World. The album pays tribute the first great saxophone star Sidney Bechet and marks several new forays into sound. It pulls together a heavyweight musical line-up that draws influences from Europe, South America and Africa, and mixes them with a distinctive Caribbean groove. Overall there is a feeling of continuing movement as each track on the album passes from one place to another.
Sometimes referred to as the ‘Jazz Warrior’, Courtney is definitely a road warrior. In more than 20 years of touring he has played across the globe from the main stage at Glastonbury to the intimate Blue Note in Tokyo.
Over the years Courtney has received many prestigious awards including the MOBO for Best Jazz Act in 1996 and 1997. His seventh album ‘Modern Day Jazz Stories’ was nominated as one of the Mercury Music Prize 1996 Albums of the Year.
Testament to this continued success and contribution to jazz music Courtney was recognised in the 2009 New Years Honours list and awarded a CBE for services to music.
