Last night saw Stan Tracey’s first appearance on stage at the Royal Albert Hall Proms. They took their time.
He was there with the current edition of his big band to play his Genesis suite, a set of seven pieces composed in response to a commission in 1986. Whereas, in his solo playing, it’s the Monk side of Tracey’s two major influences which shows through the more clearly, here it was the Duke [whose Sacred Music Tracey has arranged and performed]. Giving the first solo to Alan Barnes on baritone evoked shades of Harry Carney, and there were other little Ducal touches throughout, most notably from the brass. With so many excellent soloists on hand, it’s difficult to pick out any for special mention, but Mornington Locket sparkled on soprano and, as often seems to be the case in any band he’s part of, Mark Nightingale excelled on trombone. After the final section, which featured son, Clark, on drums, Tracey introduced the players individually, then walked quietly off stage, shoulders a little hunched from all those years of stooping over pianos, good and bad, but otherwise looking none the worse for his 82 plus years.
Brought back by the warmth of the applause, and apologising for the fact that the band had played all the numbers they knew, he offered the musicians the chance of sliding off stage or remaining while he played a little something solo on the piano. They stayed. Tracey played – wonderfully – and appositely – “Little Man You’ve Had a Busy Day”.
The concert was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, and is available to listen to via the BBC iPlayer for the next six days.
3 responses so far ↓
Jane Adkin (Weston) // July 19, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Wierd, we were talking bout Stan’s Proms debut this am. Tim went to see him at Stroud Fringe 6-7 years ago (one of our many “If I don’t go now I’ll never see him” ventures). He was appearing with Michael Horovitz and wore grey shoes (more taxi/bus driver than Jazz legend!). He was superb – unlike Horovitz who insisted on playing Kazoo on a Stan number! Pleased to see he’s still goinf strong.
john harvey // July 21, 2009 at 6:54 am
Yes, indeed, I remember Stan in grey shoes – proof, if it were needed, that the clothes don’t always maketh the man. As for good old Mike Horowitz, heart in the right place, but that kazoo should have disappeared up the swanee long since.
Tim Adkin // July 23, 2009 at 1:28 pm
This Prom has had somewhat mixed reviews…Clive Davis in the Thunderer gave it *** although the review itself was more of a **** ~ he seemed to have a problem with the suite more than anything…whereas the Radio 3 Jazz Messageboarders ,whilst generally positive, did in certain quarters (Jenna Rator~tee hee) criticize the soloists as being not as good as the original ones on the record although Alan Barnes (a hate figure usually on said m’board)did seem exempt.
I first encountered Stan when my dad heard on Peter Clayton in early 70 the wonderful “Green King of Kingspring Green”(you can tell who was in the quartet from that title) from “Free n One” and went out and bought the album immediately (which in truth was a bit far out for him)and I’ve loved Stan’s playing ever since although my favourite is still “Captain Adventure” from 76ish with the great Art Themen(now a 2 cd set with an hour’s extra music )….strange to relate that Art has been heavily criticized of late by said Jenna Rator who clearly does not like him as a player at all…I saw him live for the first in Cheltenham last year with John Critchinson (who does a good sitting down stand up turn) and the force of nature that is Spike Wells.I didn’t know until that night that Art was of West Indian extraction (“the only thing I have in common with Sonny Rollins” he modestly announced at one stage)and had assumed he was white~ never having owned an album on which he played where there was a photo of him…a fine player