Courtney Pine
Plays The Duke Tenor
Four Decades at the Forefront of British Jazz
For more than four decades, Courtney Pine CBE has been one of the defining voices of British jazz.
A saxophonist, composer and bandleader whose career has continually pushed beyond convention, Courtney emerged as a major force with his groundbreaking 1986 debut Journey to the Urge Within. The album became the first jazz record by a British artist to reach the UK Top 40 and helped introduce a new generation to a distinctly British approach to jazz.
Since then, Courtney has built an extraordinary career spanning jazz, reggae, drum and bass, soul and contemporary music, collaborating with artists including Herbie Hancock, Chaka Khan, Mick Jagger and many more.
Forty years on, he remains as active and relevant as ever - performing on some of the world's most celebrated stages, recording with legendary artists and continuing to explore where the saxophone can go next.
Courtney Pine & The Duke
Courtney plays The Duke Tenor by Atlantic Saxophones.
For us, there could be few greater endorsements of an instrument than seeing it become the choice of a musician who has spent more than 40 years developing one of the most recognisable saxophone voices in British music.
The Duke was created around a simple idea: to combine the depth, character and individuality associated with the great vintage saxophones with the precision, response and reliability expected from a modern instrument.
Courtney describes it in much the same way:
“The Atlantic Duke is the smoothest sounding horn I have ever played. It has that classic, deep, resonant tone with incredibly rich overtones, yet looks and feels like a modern horn with an old soul. Of all the modern tenor saxophones I’ve played, this is the one that truly hits the spot — a stunning, unique instrument that’s ready to inspire players at every level.”
— Courtney Pine CBE
On Stage with The Duke
The real test of any instrument is what happens when it leaves the workshop.
Courtney has made The Duke his working saxophone, taking it from intimate jazz clubs to festival stages and national television.
His recent performances have included a return to the legendary Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, a venue that has been intertwined with Courtney's career since its earliest days.
He has also performed on The Duke at Love Supreme Jazz Festival, one of Europe's largest celebrations of jazz, soul and contemporary music.
Away from the live stage, Courtney and The Duke have reached national audiences through appearances on Later… with Jools Holland and Channel 4's Sunday Brunch.
Recording with The Rolling Stones
Beyond the stage, The Duke has also found its way into the studio for a particularly special recording session.
Courtney recently recorded with The Rolling Stones, choosing The Duke Tenor for the session.
For us, it’s another remarkable chapter in the instrument’s story. Seeing The Duke in Courtney’s hands at Ronnie Scott’s, Love Supreme and on national television is one thing; knowing he also chose it when recording alongside one of the most iconic bands in music history means something else entirely.
It’s also perhaps the best demonstration of what we wanted The Duke to be from the beginning - an instrument with the depth and character of a great vintage saxophone, but the response, reliability and versatility to be used anywhere.
From the stage to the studio, it’s an instrument designed to be played.
40 Years of Journey to the Urge Within
2026 marks 40 years since the release of Courtney’s landmark debut album, Journey to the Urge Within.
Released in 1986, the record became a defining moment for modern British jazz and announced the arrival of an artist who would spend the following four decades refusing to stand still.
The anniversary was celebrated by Jazzwise, with Courtney appearing on the magazine’s cover alongside The Duke.
For a young saxophone company, seeing an Atlantic instrument on the cover of Britain’s leading jazz publication — held by an artist who has played such an important role in the country’s musical history — was an incredibly proud moment.
But perhaps the more important story is what that photograph represents.
Forty years after Journey to the Urge Within, Courtney is still searching for new sounds, new ideas and new ways to express himself through the saxophone.