September 2013 - Stan's last recording
With his oblique and inimitable turn of phrase and knotty, trenchant piano style, this is vintage Tracey.
Dave Gelly. The Guardian
It's trademark Tracey, but even more sharply focused.
John Fordham. The Guardian/Observer
Stan Tracey - piano
Simon Allen - tenor saxophone
Mark Armstrong - flugelhorn, trumpet
Andrew Cleyndert - double bass
Clark Tracey - drums
"The inspiration for this album came after a visit with Clark and grandson Ben to the WW1 battlefields of Loos (pronounced 'loss') in northern France, where my father (Stanley Clark Tracey) was wounded and captured in 1915 aged 18."
Stan Tracey
2010 reissue - Under Milkwood : Jazz Suite
In March 2010 The Stan Tracey Quartet's classic Under Milkwood went for another re-pressing after the last had sold out yet again.
It was decided that to mark this moment a new cover could be issued. The last version had been in circulation for quite a few years and this had been an altered version from a Blue Note issue even earlier than that.
With new faster technology in printing the old cover artwork was now taking it's place in history along with the original sleeve you'll see illustrated below at the bottom of the Quartets releases.
The inner pages has a picture of the four members of the Quartet now over two pages , previously printed much smaller on the past reissues. The photograph as evocative of the 60's era as the album itself now has it's due prominence.
left to right : Jeff Clyne, Stan Tracey, Bobby Wellins, Jackie Dougan.
Senior Moment
With the Autumn 2009 release of 'Senior Moment' it's a good time to look at Stan's quartets over the decades. It's surprising that the quartets have only recorded 2 albums (about) every decade.
To quote Chris Parker from the latest sleeve notes "Stan has had an unerring ear for the suitable musical collaborator in the past, which has led Tracey to many great musicians – Art Themen, Bobby Wellins, Gerard Presencer, Peter King, and Bryan Spring, to name just five".
The new addition being Simon Allen, "is the latest in a long line of superb saxophonists connected with Tracey's music, his sound (on whichever saxophone he happens to be playing) always polished and assured, yet joyously effervescent."
With this latest quartet album Stan has selected compositions from those decades plus the 'Grandad Suite' written some 15 or so years ago and never before published.
From the first quartet recording in the 1960's these groups were to be the heart of the sextets, octets, and orchestra over the decades. More on those in future posts.
It was decided that to mark this moment a new cover could be issued. The last version had been in circulation for quite a few years and this had been an altered version from a Blue Note issue even earlier than that.
With new faster technology in printing the old cover artwork was now taking it's place in history along with the original sleeve you'll see illustrated below at the bottom of the Quartets releases.
The inner pages has a picture of the four members of the Quartet now over two pages , previously printed much smaller on the past reissues. The photograph as evocative of the 60's era as the album itself now has it's due prominence.
left to right : Jeff Clyne, Stan Tracey, Bobby Wellins, Jackie Dougan.
Senior Moment
With the Autumn 2009 release of 'Senior Moment' it's a good time to look at Stan's quartets over the decades. It's surprising that the quartets have only recorded 2 albums (about) every decade.
To quote Chris Parker from the latest sleeve notes "Stan has had an unerring ear for the suitable musical collaborator in the past, which has led Tracey to many great musicians – Art Themen, Bobby Wellins, Gerard Presencer, Peter King, and Bryan Spring, to name just five".
The new addition being Simon Allen, "is the latest in a long line of superb saxophonists connected with Tracey's music, his sound (on whichever saxophone he happens to be playing) always polished and assured, yet joyously effervescent."
With this latest quartet album Stan has selected compositions from those decades plus the 'Grandad Suite' written some 15 or so years ago and never before published.
Jools Holland introduces Stan's Quartet on Later.
The Quartet play 'Triple Celebration' from 'Senior Moment'
broadcast BBC2. 20th November 2009.
The Quartet play 'Triple Celebration' from 'Senior Moment'
broadcast BBC2. 20th November 2009.
From the first quartet recording in the 1960's these groups were to be the heart of the sextets, octets, and orchestra over the decades. More on those in future posts.
Here are the line-ups of the quartets for the last 50 years :
Senior Moment - recorded April 2008
Simon Allen - tenor, soprano
Stan Tracey - piano
Andy Cleyndert - bass
Clark Tracey - drums
Tracey and Wellins Play Monk recorded December 2006Stan Tracey - piano
Bobby Wellins - tenor
Andrew Cleyndert - bass
Clark Tracey - drums
Under Milkwood(3) - recorded May 2001.
Stan Tracey - piano
Bobby Wellins - tenor
Andrew Cleyndert - bass
Clark Tracey - drums
Philip Madoc - narrator
Comme D'Habitude. recorded June 1998.
Stan Tracey - piano
Bobby Wellins - tenor saxophone
Andy Cleyndert - bass
Clark Tracey - drums
For Heaven's Sake. recorded September 1995.
Stan Tracey - piano,
Gerard Presencer - trumpet/flugelhorn
Andrew Cleyndert - bass,
Clark Tracey - drums
The Poets' Suite. recorded June 1984.
Stan Tracey - piano
Art Themen - tenor/soprano saxophones
Roy Babbington - bass
Clark Tracey - drums
South East Assignment. recorded June 1980.
Stan Tracey - piano
Art Themen - tenor, soprano, sopranino
Roy Babbington - bass
Clark Tracey - drums
Under Milk Wood (2). recorded May 22, 1976.
Art Themen - tenor saxophone
Stan Tracey - piano
Dave Green - double bass
Bryan Spring - drums
Donald Houston - narrator
Captain Adventure. Recorded November 1975.
Art Themen - tenor/soprano
Stan Tracey - piano
Dave Green - double bass
Bryan Spring - drums
Free An' One. recorded September 1969.
Stan Tracey - piano
Peter King - alto Sax
Dave Green - bass
Bryan Spring - drums
With Love From Jazz. recorded 1967.
Stan Tracey - piano - vibes - celeste
Jackie Dougan - drums
Dave Green - bass
Bobby Wellins - tenor sax
Jazz Suite: Under Milk Wood. recorded March 1965.
Stan Tracey - piano
Bobby Wellins - tenor saxophone
Jeff Clyne - bass
Jack Dougan - drums
The latest quartet release 'Senior Moment' can be purchased from ReSteamed along with a re-issues of 'Captain Adventure' and the latest 'Under Milkwood'
