Jazz breaking news: Jazz stars come out for Stan Tracey tribute night
Monday, November 25, 2013
Outside the night was bible black, but indoors at the 100 Club it was certainly not starless.
Luminaries of the jazz world had gathered to honour Stan Tracey for his seven decades of inspiration. It reflects the affection for Tracey that even though this impromptu tribute was held amid the London Jazz Festival’s busy schedule, fans and musicians alike changed their commitments to fete the great man.
True, not all those billed arrived, notably Georgie Fame, hospitalised with pneumonia. But what a band depped for him: Arnie Somogyi’s Mingus Project, notable for its double sax attack of Tony Kofi and Karen Sharpe ripped through 3 songs, all energy, spirit and serious sweat.
But the magic for many was the recreation of what son Clark said his dad ‘grudgingly’ called his best work, Under Milk Wood. If anyone can fill Tracey’s boots, it’s his old duo partner Steve Melling, who played with panache, power and joy. Tracey’s grandson Ben movingly read the narration, and what can you say about the evergreen Bobby Wellins (pictured above), rolling back the years to that iconic original recording? Other standout acts included the equally timeless Pete King and his solo take on ‘Lush Life’, while John Taylor’s band hot-footed from their South Bank gig to revel in the music of another octogenarian, Kenny Wheeler.
Clark Tracey, who must’ve felt such a mix of emotions, was his inimitable self, introducing Somogyi as all the way from Leighton Buggered (must be the neighbouring town to Llareggub). Throughout the night, mischievous Michael Horovitz, the Beat bard who helped Clark and Andy Cleyndert pull the evening together, moved through the crowd like Ariel, and delivered a moving set of his own.
The only disappointment was the lights going up 30 minutes earlier than anticipated, which meant Stan’s Octet didn’t grace the stage. And so we left, with memories warm and friends well met, not to go gentle into that good night, which we all hope Stan won’t do, but more like to create a little ‘A.M. Mayhem’.
– Andy Robson