The Rep Posted January 12, 2010 Report Posted January 12, 2010 I have just been listening to the new album from Stan Tracy Quartet called "Senior Moment" for the seventh time this week, it is terrific. This is the first new album from Stan in quite a while. This is just a classic jazz album, it has the same affect that his "Jazz Suite" (under milk wood) album had on me when it was released in 1965. This is without doubt one of Stans finest recordings. The group is so at ease with each other that it could be that original quartet but the sound is so fresh that it could only be today. Everything about this album is right, from Stans percussive style, to the wonderful and melodic melodies he has composed. Probably the most astonishing is the quality and insight of this new sax player Simon Allen. Up through the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, a member of Clark Tracey's Quintet, and co-leader of a quartet with Gwilym Simcock, featuring among others Laurence Cottle, Mike Bradley and guest Ben Castle. He has also play with Paul McCartney, Phil Collind and Eric Clapton. I just recommend this new album to you all. The Rep. Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted January 12, 2010 Report Posted January 12, 2010 Haven't heard it yet, although look forward to doing so. Did you see this a few weeks ago?!? Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted January 12, 2010 Report Posted January 12, 2010 Haven't heard it yet, although look forward to doing so. Did you see this a few weeks ago?!? Is Stan about to become famous again! He came to my attention when he was hanging around with Keith Tippett around 1976/7. I recall watching an hour BBC documentary about him early in '77. He then had another brief moment in the sun when he got that Blue Note contract in the early 90s. Quote
sidewinder Posted January 12, 2010 Report Posted January 12, 2010 He came to my attention when he was hanging around with Keith Tippett around 1976/7. I recall watching an hour BBC documentary about him early in '77. That was re-shown by BBC4 as part of the 'Jazz Britannia' season I think (or major parts of it embedded within a more recent documentary). Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted January 12, 2010 Report Posted January 12, 2010 He came to my attention when he was hanging around with Keith Tippett around 1976/7. I recall watching an hour BBC documentary about him early in '77. That was re-shown by BBC4 as part of the 'Jazz Britannia' season I think (or major parts of it embedded within a more recent documentary). Probably the latter. I recall the drift of the '77 programme was of a onetime mainstreamer now swimming happily in the freer waters of younger musicians. Stan seemed to back away from that later on (I recall hearing him talk about how he got fed up of playing free, especially in one session where he played 'God Save the Queen' throughout a set and no-one noticed). Though he returned again with the two marvellous discs with Evan Parker a while back. Quote
sidewinder Posted January 12, 2010 Report Posted January 12, 2010 Plus = he used to be the regular musical 'turn' each week with his trio on the Spike Milligan 'Q' shows. Remember seeing that when they were first broadcast by BBC. Quote
clifford_thornton Posted January 12, 2010 Report Posted January 12, 2010 Haven't heard it yet, although look forward to doing so. Did you see this a few weeks ago?!? Wow. If only US TV programming had music like this. Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted January 12, 2010 Report Posted January 12, 2010 Point taken - although trust me - to feature jazz like that is really unusual for that programme Quote
Guest Bill Barton Posted January 13, 2010 Report Posted January 13, 2010 Hmmm... Gonna have to search this one out! He's one of my all-time favorites. Quote
Head Man Posted January 13, 2010 Report Posted January 13, 2010 He's playing with his Octet at The Sage in Gateshead on 26 March and I'm looking forward to seeing him again now that The Appleby Jazz Festival seems 'to be no more'. BTW The Abdullah Ibrahim Trio are playing at the Sage the day before so many thanks to them for booking a couple of first class acts. Quote
king ubu Posted January 13, 2010 Report Posted January 13, 2010 Very nice video - and a smart move to chose this calypso tune for such a tv show, I guess... Quote
The Rep Posted January 13, 2010 Author Report Posted January 13, 2010 He's playing with his Octet at The Sage in Gateshead on 26 March and I'm looking forward to seeing him again now that The Appleby Jazz Festival seems 'to be no more'. BTW The Abdullah Ibrahim Trio are playing at the Sage the day before so many thanks to them for booking a couple of first class acts. Yes, I saw the octet about 18 months ago at Scarborough Jazz Festival, be careful! I was enjoying a great jazz festival, seeing some of my favoroute bands and everything was right with the world, BANG, the Stan Tracey Octet came on stage . It was like I had got a lift to the top floor. The rest of the festival was good but the bar had been set to high. Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted January 13, 2010 Report Posted January 13, 2010 (edited) I must get hold of this new one - Stan's had a really good run in the last few years with some marvellous discs (I especially like the one with Peter King and the Wellins Monk album). Though my favourite period is the late 70s/early 80s (the Steam Years!). Not only was he playing superbly but writing marvellous tunes. 'Captain Adventure' is well loved but there are some othe quartet records from afterwards that are fantastic. Art Themen was a more abstract player (maybe 'smeary' would be a better term) than the people he's used since, bringing out something else in his records. I'll be interested to hear Simon Allen - recall seeing him with Clarke's band at Appleby. Edited January 13, 2010 by Bev Stapleton Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted January 13, 2010 Report Posted January 13, 2010 (edited) Anyone heard this?: Edited January 13, 2010 by Bev Stapleton Quote
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