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Europe Jazz Network
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Internationally renowned jazz pianist, composer and arranger, Stan Tracey
is generally regarded as one of Britains greatest living jazz musicians.
His career spans over 40 years, and entrenches back to the formative days
of modern jazz in this country. In 1960 he began a seven year stint as resident pianist at Ronnie Scott's Club, playing with every visiting musicians from the USA. During that period Stan formed his quartet and big band, and in 1965 he reached a wide audience with the immortal "Under Milk Wood Suite", a lyrical setting to Dylan Thomas's play for voices. The following year he produced "Alice in Jazzland", another literary inspired work. Stan's originality has been recognised with about 15 commissions, and he has recorded about 45 albums of mainly his own compositions. Stan has achieved many rare distinctions, being the subject of an Omnibus programme on BBC2, documenting Stan's rise to the status of Britain's most respected jazz musician. As well as touring throughout Britain and Europe, Stan has taken the quartet on a highly successful British Council sponsored tour of Greece, Yugoslavia, the Middle East and South America. He also played at festivals in India and Australia. In 1989 Stan and his quintet performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival and in Hong Kong. Official recognition has come in the form of the BASCA Award (for services to the British Music Industry) and honorary membership of the Royal Academy of Music. Stan received the Melody Maker annual award several times for his work as a pianist, composer and arranger, and of course the O.B.E. In 1985 Stan was voted International Jazz Musician of the Year. In 1989 Stan received the Guardian/Wire Award for the best composer of the year. In 1990 We Still Love you Madly was voted the best album of the year. Stan's work "Genesis" received great appreciation and praise. |