Courtney Pine

In 1987, Courtney Pine's debut album 'Journey to the Urge Within' made the UK top 40 and earnt the saxophonist a rare-for-jazz silver disc. At the same time he was a co-founder of the Jazz Warriors, which provided an exciting generation of black British musicians with a platform from which numerous major careers were launched. In this way, Pine was propelled to the forefront of the so-called 'new jazz' movement of the late 80s and early 90s. He has recorded a further twelve albums, often working with US musicians of the calibre of Geri Allen, Jeff Watts and Kenny Kirkland. Pine's 1996 album, Modern Day Jazz Stories, was nominated for a prestigious Mercury Music Prize and in the same year he won the first of his two consecutive 'Best Jazz Act' MOBO (Music of Black Origin) awards. He has worked frequently as a presenter and broadcaster for the BBC and his achievements have been recognised with an honorary doctorate, many more awards, and an OBE in 2000.