The Bebop Shop : Changes: Post-Bop Modernists : Stan Tracey
Recorded on two dates, the first four standards include Tony Crombie on drums, who had a residency with his own band at the Flamingo around this period. The other tracks feature legendary Phil Seaman on drums and showcase Stan's own material, a wonderful insight to jazz in London in 1959 and a great indication of what was to follow in the ensuing years. Kenny Napper was the bassist of Stan's choice back then and he appears on all tracks.
So, after more than sixty years hidden in a pile of inconspicuous 1/4 inch tapes, ReSteamed Records are delighted to present for the first time 'The 1959 Sessions' of the maestro, Stan Tracey and his musicians, in a timely reminder of the outstanding quality of early British Be-bop. (Proper Music) Price: £13.99
Limited one-off pressing of 1000 copies worldwide. Lacquers cut by Caspar Sutton-Jones @ Gearbox Studios. Includes new sleeve note by Stan Tracey's son Clark Tracey. (Proper Music) Price: £29.99
What emerged was a remarkable piece of music but only broadcast in Germany. Resteamed producer and Stan's son, Clark, had been aware that NDR had released one of the tracks on their annual compilation of that year's various guests at the studio and decided to dig a little deeper. Fortuitously, he made contact with the relevant people and was able to secure the whole recording which had remained dormant in the German vaults until now.
The standard of recording excellence was typical of NDR so very little was altered by the masterful sonic engineer Derek Nash back in the UK. Resteamed Records are now delighted to offer this extraordinary recording which recaptures the essence of British jazz in the 1960s with the added bonus of the exceptional horn playing of Kenny Wheeler. (Proper Music) Price: £13.99
These two recordings, which were deleted almost immediately on their first release fifty years ago, have since become rarities in British jazz collectors' wishlists. Now lovingly restored, we can once again appreciate the mastery of Stan Tracey's piano playing, along with his compositional, arranging and band leading skills from this pivotal period in his life, having just left his tenure as house pianist at Ronnie Scott's Club.
Stan Tracey Quartet - Free An' One: with Peter King (alto saxophone), Dave Green (double bass), Bryan Spring (drums)- Recorded September 10th 1969.
Stan Tracey Big Band - The Seven Ages of Man: with Derek Watkins, Tony Fisher, Greg Bowen, Hank Shaw (trumpet), Keith Christie, Chris Pyne, Mike Gibbs (trombone), Peter King, Dennis Walton (alto saxophone), Tony Coe (clarinet, tenor saxophone), Alan Skidmore (tenor saxophone), Ronnie Ross (baritone saxophone), Dave Green (double bass), Bryan Spring (drums), Frank Ricotti (vibraphone) - Recorded October 8th 1969. (Resteamed Records) Price: £18.99
This is not only highly charged, beautiful music performed by musicians at the top of their game, it's a fascinating and irreplaceable historical snapshot of the jazz scene of the time. (Harmonia Mundi) Price: £20.99
Pianist Stan Tracey, known as the 'Godfather of British Jazz', is an outstanding figure in the jazz world. His distinguished career has spanned six decades and he has had many commissions to write works for special occasions including the two for his octet on this double CD. ‘The Later Works’ features the octet’s latest line-up of his regular trio plus leading UK jazz musicians including Guy Barker, Mornington Lockett, Simon Allen and Mark Nightingale. The Hong Kong Suite (disc one) was commissioned by Christopher Patten, to mark the British handover of Hong Kong back to China in 1997 and The Amandla Suite (disc two), slightly less glamorous perhaps, was commissioned in 1993 by NALGO on its merger with other trade unions, becoming UNISON. (Proper Music) Price: £18.99
Very much in the mould of Stan's landmark recording ‘Under Milk Wood’ from the Sixties, this was another popular story in the Tracey household at that time and ever since. “I've always had a particular fondness for A Child's Christmas in Wales because it evokes so many memories of the festival when I was a child. I was, therefore, delighted when Clark suggested that I should write something based on Dylan's story and wondered why I hadn't thought of it first. I hope the music reflects some of the pleasure it has given me.” Stan Tracey (Proper Note) Price: £13.99
