Afropeans

(4 stars) The music flows in a cinematic way...gloriously arranged and performed...this album is a must-have.

(4 stars) Typical of Pine's uplifting and accessible reinvention of contemporary jazz in his own "Afropean" image.

Offers plenty of delights...There's Alex Wilson's kora-inspired piano; trombonist Harry Brown's joyful skank on "Blak Flag"...

...Pine's sleeve-notes offer a revealing commentary on the extent to which the slavery experience continues to colour jazz.

(4 stars) Courtney Pine is back with a new London band drawn from the wider black diaspora...it's a wild ride.

Once again it's the irrepressible collective energy that makes the biggest impression...Funk, reggae and steel pans are tastefully incorporated.

Even more exciting than its mould-breaking predecessor...some terrific young talents...most impressive of all are Pine's compositions.

(5 stars) Featuring superb tracks such as "Abolition Day"...the Warriors are a force to be reckoned with.

On 6 October 2007, at The Barbican in London, UK saxophone legend Courtney Pine led the freshly-minted 15-piece Jazz Warriors Afropeans in a vibrant three hour musical celebration of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act bicentenary. This new ensemble, taking its lead from the positive spirit of seminal 1980s big band the Jazz Warriors, brings established names such as Byron Wallen, Jason Yarde and Alex Wilson together, with key newcomers such as Shabaka Hutchings, Samuel Dubois, Ayanna Witter Johnson and two members of the hottest new band in UK jazz, Empirical (Nathanial Facey and Jay Phelps). As a result, this live album documents an extraordinary meeting of some of the UK's most exciting musicians, and serves as a spellbinding memento of an evening commemorating a landmark historical event. "The original Jazz Warriors were a hugely influential black British big band initiated by Courtney Pine in the mid-1980s. Their mission was to celebrate black British musicianship and shake up the cliquey world of British jazz. Twenty years on, this one-off gig's 'Afropeans' were assembled to play new compositions celebrating Black History Month and the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade. The rhythm section was top-notch, paring grooves down to their essential details, shifting gear with panache. There were barnstorming solos...the three-hour concert never lost interest...nice touches abounded - delicate bowed strings, a skanking reggae backing tailgate trombone, foot-stamping chains. Hugely entertaining." - Mike Hobart, The Times Personnel: Courtney Pine, Nathanial Facey, Shabaka Hutchings, Jason Yarde (woodwind), Chris Storr, Byron Wallen, Jay Phelps (trumpets/flugelhorns), Harry Brown (trombone), Samuel Dubois (alto/bass steel pans), Ayanna Witter Johnson (cello, voice), Omar Puente (electric violin), Femi Temowo (acoustic/electric guitar), Alex Wilson (acoustic piano), Darren Taylor (double bass), Robert Fordjour (drums)