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Courtney Pine

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Courtney Pine was born in London in 1964, the son of Jamaican immigrants. He studied classical clarinet at school and from the age of fourteen taught himself to play saxophone. His career began in reggae: in 1981 he toured with the duo Clint Eastwood & General Saint. Later he grew into one of the best-known British jazz musicians. He plays mainly saxophone, but also flute, clarinet, bass clarinet and keyboards. On Europa from 2011 he plays almost only bass clarinet.

Music and breakthrough

In 1985 he founded the Jazz Warriors, a Black British big band that grew out of a community band that played in the foyer of the Royal Festival Hall in the summer of International Youth Year. In 1987 the group recorded Out of Many, One People for Antilles, a part of Island Records. In 1986 his debut album Journey to the Urge Within reached the British top 40. After that came, among others, Destiny's Song & The Image of Pursuance in 1988, Modern Day Jazz Stories in 1995, Underground in 1997 and Transition in Tradition, a tribute to Sidney Bechet, in 2009.

Influence

In the 2000s he mixed jazz with drum and bass and UK garage. In 1989 he also played with the Pet Shop Boys, in the closing section of their single Nothing Has Been Proved. On BBC Radio 2 he presented the programme Jazz Crusade. His influence therefore lies not only in his playing, but also in the space he made for Black British jazz.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a track from Journey to the Urge Within and notice the saxophone. Can you hear how it sings over the rhythm?

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Categories: Artists