Celebrated jazz fusionist, Courtney Pine, has just announced a new album and UK tour.

The newly CBE-ed saxophonist and clarinettist will reunite with the Jazz Warriors Afropeans collective_ a project he curated in 2007 for a one-off commemorative concert of the 200th anniversary of Britain's abolition of the slave trade.

The cross-generational ensemble comprises violinist Omar Puente, Jason Yarde (reeds) and pianist Alex Wilson, as well as newcomers cellist/vocalist Ayanna Witter-Johnson and Shabaka Hutchings(reeds), all of whom will join Pine on a UK tour, kicking off on March 8th in London, via Bristol (March 12th) , Gateshead (March 21st) , Oxford (March 23rd) , Birmingham (March 26th) , Poole (March 27th) , Bracknell (March 28th) and Belfast(March 31st).

Prior to that, Pine will release his thirteenth album, 'Transition in Tradition', on February 23rd, and will play an album launch gig at Ronnie Scott's on February 28th (tickets cost between £25 and £46).

Tickets for The Jazz Warriors Afropeans shows range from £10 to £20, and are available now.

Solange Moffi