Courtney Pine
Encyclopedia
Courtney Pine CBE
(born 18 March 1964, London
) is an English
jazz
musician
. At school he studied the clarinet
, although he is known primarily for his saxophone
playing. Pine is a multi-instrumentalist
, also playing the flute
, clarinet, bass Clarinet
and keyboard
s. On his 2011 album, Europa, he plays almost exclusively bass clarinet.
In 1986 Pine's debut album Journey to the Urge Within
became "the first serious jazz album ever to make the British Top 40 (significantly earning a Silver Disc), the last two decades have seen him go on to achieve considerable international acclaim. Prestigiously cracking the American jazz charts along the way, while constantly remaining an inspirational figure to many young, upcoming black British musicians".
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. 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'.
, 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.
As Sideman
"Too Much To Lose" (1999) - Elkie Brooks
, featuring Courtney Pine.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 18 March 1964, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. At school he studied the clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, although he is known primarily for his saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
playing. Pine is a multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
, also playing the flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, clarinet, bass Clarinet
Bass clarinet
The bass clarinet is a musical instrument of the clarinet family. Like the more common soprano B clarinet, it is usually pitched in B , but it plays notes an octave below the soprano B clarinet...
and keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
s. On his 2011 album, Europa, he plays almost exclusively bass clarinet.
In 1986 Pine's debut album Journey to the Urge Within
Journey to the Urge Within
Journey to the Urge Within is the debut album by the English saxophonist, Courtney Pine. It was released on the Verve label in 1986.The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awards the album 4 stars and states "This early Courtney Pine recording features some of the most promising black English jazz...
became "the first serious jazz album ever to make the British Top 40 (significantly earning a Silver Disc), the last two decades have seen him go on to achieve considerable international acclaim. Prestigiously cracking the American jazz charts along the way, while constantly remaining an inspirational figure to many young, upcoming black British musicians".
His recent music integrates modern British music like drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
and UK garage
UK garage
UK garage is a genre of electronic dance music originating from the United Kingdom in the early-1990s. UK garage is a descendant of house music which originated in Chicago and New York, United States. UK garage usually features a distinctive syncopated 4/4 percussive rhythm with 'shuffling'...
with contemporary jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
styles. He runs his own band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
and integrates many contemporary musicians in his performances. He also presents 'Jazz Crusade' on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
, the seventh series of which was broadcast during spring 2007.
In 1988 he appeared as himself in a jazz quartet in the Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
serial Silver Nemesis
Silver Nemesis
Silver Nemesis was the 25th anniversary serial of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast in the UK in three weekly parts from 23 November 1988, to 7 December 1988....
.
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. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Westminster
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
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
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
, on the BBC World News classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
programme, 'Visionaries'.
Personal life
Pine's parents were Jamaican immigrantsBritish African-Caribbean community
The British African Caribbean communities are residents of the United Kingdom who are of West Indian background and whose ancestors were primarily indigenous to Africa...
, his father a carpenter and his mother a housing manager. As a child he wanted to be an astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
. He lives in London with his wife and their four children.
Albums
As Leader- Journey to the Urge WithinJourney to the Urge WithinJourney to the Urge Within is the debut album by the English saxophonist, Courtney Pine. It was released on the Verve label in 1986.The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awards the album 4 stars and states "This early Courtney Pine recording features some of the most promising black English jazz...
(1986) - UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#39 - Destiny's Songs (1988) - UK #54
- The Vision's Tale (1989)
- Closer To Home (1990)
- Within The Realms of Our Dreams (1991)
- The Eyes of Creation (1992)
- Modern Day Jazz Stories (1995)
- Underground (1997)
- Back in the Day (2000)
- Devotion (2003)
- Resistance (2005)
- Transition in Tradition: En Hommage a Sidney Bechet (2009)
- Europa (2011)
As Sideman
- Mica ParisMica ParisMica Paris is an English soul singer, radio and television presenter, and occasional actress. Her forename is pronounced Misha.-Beginnings:Paris' roots are in soul and gospel music...
, So Good (1987) - Trevor JonesTrevor Jones (composer)Trevor Alfred Charles Jones is a South African orchestral film score composer. Although not especially well known outside the film world, he has composed for numerous films and his music has been critically acclaimed for both its depth and emotion.-Career:At the age of five, Jones already had...
, Angel Heart (Soundtrack)Angel HeartAngel Heart is a 1987 North American/British mystery-thriller film written and directed by Alan Parker, and starring Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, and Lisa Bonet...
(1987) - Jazz WarriorsJazz WarriorsThe Jazz Warriors were an all-black London-based group of jazz musicians that made their debut in 1986. The idea for the band came from the Abibi Jazz Arts - a London organization that promoted black music and black culture - in 1985...
, Out of Many, One People (1987), Afropeans (2008)
Singles
- "Children Of The Ghetto" (1986) (Courtney Pine featuring the vocal of Susaye Greene)
- "Like Dreamers Do" (1988) - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#26 (Mica ParisMica ParisMica Paris is an English soul singer, radio and television presenter, and occasional actress. Her forename is pronounced Misha.-Beginnings:Paris' roots are in soul and gospel music...
featuring Courtney Pine) - "I'm Still Waiting" (1990) - UK #66 (Courtney Pine featuring Carroll ThompsonCarroll ThompsonCarroll Thompson is an English lovers rock singer, best known for her work in the 1980s.-Biography:Thompson sang in school and church choirs as a girl, but initially studied for a career in pharmacy. In the mid-1970s, she began working as a backing singer at several recording studios after...
)
"Too Much To Lose" (1999) - Elkie Brooks
Elkie Brooks
Elkie Brooks is an English singer, formerly a vocalist with Vinegar Joe, and later a solo artist. Elkie has been nominated twice for Brit Awards' top female singer. She is known for her powerful husky voice...
, featuring Courtney Pine.