Saxophonist Courtney Pine has now been confirmed as support to the Jimmy Cobb So What band concert at the Tower of London on 17 September. Londoner Pine, 45, who was awarded a CBE earlier this year, is the UK’s leading jazz saxophonist of his generation. He has become an ambassador for UK jazz and is a mentor to a new stream of jazz musicians while continuing to attract large audiences to his gigs. He released Transition in Tradition in 2009, a homage to Sidney Bechet and last year live album Afropeans, recorded at the Barbican, themed to mark the bicentenary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in the former British Empire.

Headliner drummer Cobb, who is 80, the sole surviving member of the group of musicians that recorded Kind of Blue in New York 50 years ago, will perform with his band, featuring trumpeter Wallace Roney, tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson, alto saxophonist Vincent Herring, bassist Buster Williams, and pianist Larry Willis. For tickets go to www.towerfestival.com or phone 0844 847 2519.