Scion of foremost English
jazz pianist
Stan Tracey, drummer
Clark Tracey has gathered a group of top-of-the-list U.K.
jazz artists for a session that incorporates a variety of playing modes, including a contribution by Irish
avant-garde singer
Christine Tobin. There's
hard bop, some
smooth jazz, and pretty
ballads with a string quartet in attendance.
Tracey has found a successful and accommodating method to solve the conundrum drummer leaders often find themselves faced with, viz., to dominate and run the risk of overwhelming or to lie back and be the main rhythm. He provides rhythmic support, adding well-timed drum breaks and short but telling solos. The drummer adopts a broad definition for "support."
Tracey is quite active on such cuts as
"Giant Steps," where he and pianist
Gareth Williams offer a much more straight swinging version of
John Coltrane's classic than usually heard, likely because of the strong involvement of
Tracey's drums. On tunes as
"Black Coffee",,the drummer lays back as
Tim Garland's sax takes the lead with the
Locrian String Quartet on hand to provide the bulk of the musical background.
Tracey also contributes well conceived, melodic originals such as
"Lounge Blues," a tune that exudes an exotic aura which
Iain Ballamy's soprano sax helps create with
Tracey's cymbals and
Arnie Somogyi's bass. Irish singer Christine Tobin provides a vocal recitation of the moving poetic lyrics for
Tracey's
"Stability." The lieder recital mood is set by the
Locrian String Quartet, the only instrumentation on the track. One of the more intriguing cuts is a pensive piano solo by
Tracey, giving a rare airing of
Duke Ellington's
"Melancholia." Stability is a seminar on eclectic musical styles and is recommended. ~ Dave Nathan
