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Three Little Words - Benny Golson
Suspensions and Anticipations - Stan Tracey & Evan Parker The Last Time I Saw You - Stan Tracey & Pete King Khumbula (Remember) - Stan Tracey & Louis Moholo-Moholo |
Under Milk Wood - Stan Tracey Quartet with Phillip Madoc
Solo:Trio - Stan Tracey, Clark Tracey & Andy Cleyndert With Love from Jazz - Stan Tracey Quartet Laughin' & Scratchin' - Stan Tracey Trio |
Tim Stenhouse
Stan Tracey returns with one of his freshest sounding recordings in years and at least one of the reasons for this seems to be the new musical collaboration with young and upcoming talent in saxophonist Simon Allen alongside long-term band members Andrew Cleyndert and drummer Clark Tracey. The elder Tracey has enjoyed special musical relationships with some of the all-time greats...more/less
For this latest album Tracey has revisited some of his vast back catalogue of his compositions and, in addition, offering an excellent new suite, 'The Grandad Suite', devoted unsurprisingly to his own grandchildren. Coltrane and Ellington are indeed conjured up with the reflective 'Dream of my colours' featuring beautiful soprano saxophone from Allen while in contrast 'Duffy's Circus' is an uptempo bop number in which Stan Tracey stretches out and Allen delivers a fiery solo on alto. There is an obvious nod to Thelonius Monk on the be-bop number 'Afro-Charlie meets the white rabbit'. However, of the non-suite pieces, the tour de force is unquestionably the calypso driven 'Triple celebration' where the tenor of Simon Allen hints at late-fifties Sonny Rollins and the overall feel is one that Dollar Brand would be at home with. The lengthy four piece suite impresses greatly with the lyrical first piece, 'Benology' the stand out track once again featuring the soprano saxophone of Allen and one of the album's most melodic pieces wheareas the fourth part, 'Zach's dream' is a blues-inflected number that is the ideal vehicle for Stan Tracey to solo at length. As ever immaculate accompanying from Andrew Cleyndert and Clark Tracey respectively. This is one of Stan Tracey's most enjoyable albums in several years and a very fitting tribute to his sadly deceased wife Jackie.
Tony Hall. Jazzwise Dec/Jan issue.
This is the first new Stan Tracey recording I've heard in ages and deserves to be hailed as on of his best. The band is so relaxed. Sounds just as though they were on a gig. Quite a few first takes? Stan really is a national treasure. In his 80's, he's playing better than ever...more/less
Stan dedicates the record to wife Jackie, who recently passed away. A contemporary of mine long ago at Decca, she started as switchboard operator (with Sir Edward Lewis among her fans), progressed to promotion, then shortly after producing his classic 'Lil Klunk' for Tempo, left to manage Stan. Always feisty, to put it mildly, she gave up everything for Stan and will be missed.
Ray Comisky, Irish Times Oct. 2009
Along with Andy Cleyndert (bass), Clark Tracey (drums) and Simon Allen (alto/soprano/tenor), Stan Tracey revisits some of his old originals for an album as fresh and enjoyable as anything he’s ever done. The relative newcomer is Allen, a formidable talent with wide experience at the top table and the ability to burrow into a piece, take on its colours, produce exhilarating solos and quit with plenty of gas left in the tank...more/less
Peter Bacon, blogcatalog.com, October 09
Disc of the day -
It’s a catchy, Caribbean-tinged, joyful tune that could have been written by Sonny Rollins, and the saxophonist is doing nothing to dispell that thought. The pianist launches into a solo of exuberant high and low end keyboard conversation, before the saxophonist returns to work a sure-footed and nearly manic display of melodic happiness. Meanwhile the rhythm team buoys them all along, the bass solo takes the theme of enjoyment on and the drummer carries it through. And then it’s back to the head. The whole thing seems to be over in less than a minute, though it has lasted more than five. That’s what happens to time when you are having fun. more/less
Stan’s always played a strong card in irony and deadpan, of course – and the title is a classic case in point. In a blindfold “guess the ages of the band members” test the number 80 would have no chance of being mentioned, yet this adventurous, spirited, robust and superbly executed album is the latest from the supreme grandaddy of British jazz. Some of those half his age should be ashamed! Senior Moment is made up of new versions of tunes from his vast library – Duffy’s Circus, Stemless, Dream of Many Colours, etc – but making up the second half is the four-section The Grandad Suite of recently written pieces inspired by his grandchildren.
Of course, we know of Stan’s exemplary taste in musicians, but a special word for Simon Allen is in order. We may be familiar with his playing from a longish stint in Clark Tracey’s band, and with the BBC, Laurence Cottle and Matthew Herbert big bands, but he really gets to shine at length here, and, on whichever saxophone he chooses, he is superb: articulate, impassioned, big and bold or more delicate of tone as the music dictates, and always matching head and heart in perfect balance. You feel like every note is considered and every note is heartfelt; he doesn’t let his concentration stray for an instant, neither does he let in any cliches.
All in all, a storming set.
This month celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of jazz's titans: Ben Webster. His career spanned over 40 years, from being a journeyman in the Ellington orchestra to becoming one of that group's biggest stars and subsequently emerging as one of the most iconic figures of the tenor sax.
On the heels of 2008's Dig Ben, Storyville's mammoth, eight-disc box set chronicling Webster's European years, British label Resteamed is rolling out a series of previously unissued club dates that team the tenor legend with British pianist Stan Tracey. The first volume presents a high-quality recording of the set performed at the Ronnie Scott's famed London jazz club in January 1968, right smack in the middle of Webster's permanent European sojourn that lasted from 1965 until he died in Amsterdam in 1973.
Along with Dave Green (bass) and Tony Crombie (drums), the combination of Webster and Tracey results in a wonderful hour of music, especially where ballads (Webster's known specialty) are concerned. Anyone familiar with Webster's European recordings knows full well that his abilities hardly regressed with age. In fact he always remained the King of the Ballad and it's more than apparent on this disc with his work on "Londonderry Air" and "Come Sunday."
Tracey's accompaniment and soloing definitely measures up to the work of the leader. As the liner notes suggest, it's true that Webster tended to favor ballads and medium-tempo swingers over hot and heavy scorchers as one might have heard him play as a member of the Ellington squad. This might be true, for the most part, but the sax man definitely proves he still had his up-tempo chops in a relatively fast and furious version of "Sunday." This set does, however, present Webster at his swinging and easy-going best and is essential for Webster completists.
Graham L. Flanagan, All About Jazz
original article : allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=32128
see more reviews at Resteamed.com/collectors
Anyone who heard Stan Tracey's improvised duet with fellow-pianist Keith Tippett at the Barbican in January will want this historic and previously unreleased set captured at London's ICA in 1977. The two pianists represent a fascinating contrast. Tippett likes Cecil Taylorish abstractions or contemporary-classical devices, and Tracey a mixture of gallumphing jazzy runs and quirky lyricism, but as the improvisations develop both of them forget the luggage they carry, and entwine with uncanny understanding. Often they thunder together, unleashing unbroken drones like a cello and bass section, but then they stop on a dime, as if the payoff was telepathically obvious. 'Parallax' features a cat-and-mouse game of feints and weaves, there are hints at the blues, and the title track reveals how many approaches there are to that mystifying notion of 'swing'. The Tracey/Tippett reunion has become a highlight of 2008 live jazz already, here's one of the story's compelling early chapters.
John Fordham, Jazz UK 2008
see more reviews at Resteamed.com/collectors
Order these cd's at Resteamed.com
Tracey/Wellins 'Play Monk'
Modern jazz has been built on the innovations and sheer individualism of musicians such as Thelonius Monk and so it is of little surprise that other jazz artists should wish to pay tribute to him, with Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band's 'Rumba para Monk' being an outstanding example. While a plethora of these exist, 'Play Monk' has the considerable merit of playing Monk's compositions on the quartet's own terms and sounds all the better for it. Throughout there is a timeless feel to this live session, recorded at the Bull's Head in Barnes. What impresses most is the space afforded between notes by the trio with Wellins able to effortlessly join in at the appropriate moment. This is clearly a band at ease with itself and enjoying each other's company. Of all the compositions 'Blues Bolivar' is most Monk-like in execution with Wellins providing a glorious direct solo that is reminiscent of late 1950s Sonny Rollins. On 'Well you needn't' the rhythm section bubbles under the surface, with Clark Tracey particularly inventive on drums, and Stan partakes in long modal runs, stretching the notes to their fullest. The sheer lyricism of Bobby Wellins come to the fore on 'I mean you' and both Tracey and Wellins duet to good effect on Monk's Mood', while Tracey solos on a mournful version of 'Round Midnight'. The sound quality for a live recording is exceptionally good and the audience not in the least bit intrusive. Monk would have approved of this hommage.
Tim Stenhouse
UK Vibe/ Jazz culture online
Stan Tracey Orchestra at Appleby Jazz Festival (ReSteamed RSJ103)
Stan and Bobby recently repeated their Monk programme at Appleby, where these big band sessions were also recorded in 2004 and 2006. I was there to hear some superb music played by bands stuffed with the very best of today's British musicians, including Peter King, Alan Barnes, Evan Parker, Guy Barker and Mark Nightingale.
Recording quality is vivid and atmospheric and the music is absolutely glorious.
Peter Bevan
The Northern Echo
see also : Reviews from Solo to Big Band
