House of Legends

'House of Legends' is Courtney Pine's fifteenth studio album and sees the acclaimed musician/composer return to the instrument he is best known for - the saxophone. This exhilarating album features his soprano saxophone exclusively for the first time and is deeply steeped in the traditions of the Caribbean, the musical styles of Merengue, Ska, Mento and Calypso, as played through the lens (saxophone) of a UK born artist with strong African-Caribbean roots.

Featuring a cast of well-versed musicians from Africa, the Caribbean and Europe, they perform the material as if they were born for it. Pine's band includes internationally renowned French/Martinique pianist Mario Canonge, Ghanaian bassist Miles Danso, US drummer Rod Youngs and long time musical associate Dominican guitarist Cameron Pierre. They are joined by special guests Jamaican trombonist Rico Rodriguez, flautist Michael "Bammi" Rose, and trumpeter Eddie "Tan Tan" Thornton (known for their sterling work with UK bands The Specials and Aswad) and South African trumpeter Claude Deppa.

The key idea behind the project is the simple act of communicating (through instruments) tales of life from a multicultural viewpoint. All of these musicians have such varied backgrounds but are able to speak with one voice through music. It's this kind of connection that drives Courtney to compose with such a strong sense of tradition, social functionality, justice and brotherhood. 'House of Legends' is a very different sounding Courtney Pine effort. The focus being a heartfelt tribute to the many strains of Caribbean culture that not only influenced jazz but also inspired the world!

Personnel: Courtney Pine (soprano saxophone), Eddie "Tan Tan" Thornton, Mark Crown (trumpet), Claude Deppa (flugelhorn), Rico Rodriguez, Trevor Edwards (trombone), Michael "Bammi" Rose (flute), Mario Canonge, Mervyn Africa (acoustic piano), Cameron Pierre (guitars, banjo), Dominic Grant (acoustic guitar), Lucky Ranku (electric guitar), Annise Hadeed (steel pan), Robert Fordjour (dube), Miles Danso (double bass), Rod Youngs (drums) and others