Photograph of Jazzman Courtney Pine Taken by Me in 1989

Courtney Pine captured during a solo performance at the Virgin Megastore, Oxford Street, December 1989. Photo Credit: Adeyinka Makinde.

I kept an eye on jazz music during the 1980s.

My LP-buying focused on Miles Davis and John Coltrane and contemporary stars such as Wynton Marsalis and Stanley Jordan. Miles of course released several albums during the eighties until his death in 1991 and I acquired most of them.

I did not consider myself an aficionado but was aware of the rise of the British Jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine who led a group named the Jazz Warriors.

To my surprise I encountered him playing saxophone during a solo in-store performance at the now defunct Virgin Megastore at Oxford Street in December 1989. I spent a few minutes watching him with a few others during which time I took several pictures.

I had half-forgotten the incident but recently encountered the photographs while rifling through old photos contained in a store box. He had apparently lost his contract by this time but has been actively recording and performing to the present day.

© Adeyinka Makinde (2026).

Adeyinka Makinde is a writer based in London, England.