Festa: Clark Tracey: tribute to Stan Tracey's Hexad

Festa: Clark Tracey: tribute to Stan Tracey's Hexad

One of the finest drummers now inherits the mantle of the great Stan Tracey's jazz legacy
Clark Tracey drums, Steve Melling piano, Alex Ridout trumpet, Sean Payne alto, Chris Maddock tenor/soprano, Daniel Casimir bass

Stan Tracey belonged to the first generation of British performers who were trying, in those restless, optimistic years after the war, to learn from the inspirations of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk despite being 3000 miles away from the source, and then develop a style of their own in a culture that had never been hospitable to jazz. Tracey, one of the undisputed giants of the music in Britain, managed exactly that.

In November 1985 , Tracey's new band Hexad played opposite Chet Baker fro a season that represented one of Ronnie Scott Club's most perfect balances of utterly different persuasions in jazz. Bothy Baker and Tracey defined the spirit of jazz in their different ways, and the audiences responded by being utterly absorbed in a manner rare for a night-club.

Clark Tracey is a band leader, composer, educator, promotor and a highly professional and brilliant drummer; not to mentions multiple award winner. He brings an excellent sextet to give
us the music of the original Hexad.