After exploring a range of popular ballads for Song, and the musical heritage of the Caribbean for House Of Legends, multi-instrumentalist and composer Courtney Pine looks at life of black communities living in the UK for his new album Black Notes From The Deep.

Released later this year, the album also features British 'Neo Soul' vocalist Omar following their surprise team-up at the Love Supreme festival in 2014. The two continue their collaboration live with an appearance at Coventry's Warwick Arts Centre on Sunday 23 April 2017. Here, he tells us more about the record and his forthcoming gig.

Black Notes From The Deep sees you return to the tenor sax, and a predominantly acoustic group, for the first time in a decade - what led to this return?
The project or albums that I do are conceptual, right down to the instrument that I choose to be the lead voice, and on this recording, black notes form the deep ... the tenor saxophone in my mind was the ideal tool for the job because of its vast range, from sensitive sub tones to bold loud sounds that convey a wide array of individual emotion. It’s also the instrument that I have been playing the longest, so when dealing with the records' subject matter this instrument for me was the only choice

When did you first become aware of Omar?
I knew Omar from school days. I, like most, heard about him when he released his first brilliant first album [There’s Nothing Like This], playing all the instruments and creating a genre which critics call neo soul in the process.

Does Omar feature on the entire album, or just key tracks?
Unfortunately no, he is a very busy international artist so I could only get him to be on four tracks [Rules, Darker Than The Blue, In Another Time and Butterfly], three of which he wrote lyrics for.

What are some of your personal highlights on the album, and why?
The whole project is a highlight, it is not easy making music in this current environment especially as an independent artist. I have tried to create moods in short statements that I hope will express my experiences of UK life, for example Rivers Of Blood or A Change Is Sure To Come, or a track dedicated to migrants that have lost their lives in a bid to reach UK shores entitled How Many More.

With the tour, will you be sticking to the album? Or working in tracks from your, and Omar's, extensive back catalogues?
Mainly the album, but there are so many tracks to express ourselves with and the set list will change depending on the vibe of the audience.

Courtney Pine and Omar play Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, on Sunday 23 April 2017.

For tickets and more information, visit warwickartscentre.co.uk.