Context notes for the Edexcel Music A Level set works Courtney Pine
Details of key dates and information, as well as context points that can be easily used in essays
Born in London in 1964
One of UK's most successful jazz musicians
Leading figure to revive UK jazz since 1980s – key exponent of fusion
Studied clarinet and taught himself the saxophone
Started touring aged 17
At 22 released his first solo album Journey to the Urge Within
Awarded OBE in 2000 and CBE in 2009
More commercial success than many contemporaries because:
o uses variety of popular styles
o fused with elements of American modern jazz
Multi-instrumentalist: tenor sax, soprano sax, flute, bass clarinet, keyboard
Worked as a DJ – good with turntable and mixing deck techniques
He produced and mixed Back in the Day himself
Courtney Pine enjoys making covers of well-known songs as well as original work:
o 'Love and Affection' was originally a song by Joan Armatrading
o 'Lady Day and (John Coltrane)' was originally a song by Gil Scott-Heron
Influences
Musicians:
o Billie Holiday (nicknamed Lady Day)
o John Coltrane
o Miles Davis
o Sonny Rollins
Styles of music:
o Reggae (his parents are from Jamaica)
o Black American popular music (which includes hip hop, rap and turntable effects)
o Also influenced by soul and rhythm and blues
Jazz fusion
Developed since 1960s as jazz performers looked for new directions away from big band jazz
Origins in bebop in 1940s (Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius Monk, etc.)
In 1960s began using electric instruments, amps, studio effects, etc., and also investigated other
musical styles
Much jazz fusion based on a repeating riff/groove over which the soloist would improvise
Though much modern jazz is original, it has been a common feature to use covers of well known
popular songs of the period. Miles Davis, for instance used material by Michael Jackson
"Jazz has always been about fusion. In housing estates you hear reggae, techno, classical: you walk
through a flat and hear a random mix. But it becomes harmonious, like mixing cultures to get
something different, shocking and stimulating. I'd get home from a jazz gig and play ska. I made a
conscious effort to fuse the two, to inspire myself again." – Courtney Pine
Back in the Day
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