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CD Releases
2014 release
'Meantime'
THE CLARK TRACEY QUINTET


with
Chris Maddock - alto & tenor sax
Henry Armburg Jennings - trumpet & flugel horn
Harry Bolt - piano / Daniel Casimir - bass
Clark Tracey - drums


CD ALSO AVAILABLE FROM TENTOTEN RECORDS

1. Lawra (Tony Williams) - 6.44
2. Ojos De Rojo (Cedar Walton) - 6.08
3. A Pint Of Bitter (Clark Terry) - 10.33
4. Elvin's Hug (Clark Tracey) - 7.06
5. What's New (Bob Haggart/ Johynny Burke) - 7.57
6. Rim Clicker (Clark Tracey) - 9.27
7. Suddenly Last Tuesday (Jimmy Deucher) - 6.04
recorded February, 2014.
Clark Tracey Quintet- Meantime
TTT CDS 721
Peter Vacher. Jazzwise Magazine
"This quintet is one of the liveliest and most creative groups of young musicians that Clark Tracey has led. The album nonetheless puts the drums in the forefront, opening with a forceful account of Tony Williams' "Lawra", introduced by Clark's toms and snare, and later including Clark's own tribute to another great percussionist in his composition "Elvin's Hug". The onomatopoeic "Rim Clicker" - another Clark composition - is self-explanatory.more/less
The personnel includes several alumni of Birmingham Conservatoire, where Clark has taught for some time, and the result is a shared sense of purpose, but also conveying the feeling that these are musicians with a point to prove. Saxophonist Maddock has, as Jazzwise readers will know, won a Yamaha Jazz Scholarship, not to mention the Mike Gibbs/BBC Big Band Award for composition and arranging. He extends his solo skills here on Clark Terry's "A Pint Of Bitter", a gentle bluesy rambling number. On piano, Harry Bolt, back from leading the band on the Queen Mary 2, also makes his mark, notably on Cedar Walton's composition "Ojos De Rojo", where he nods in the composer's direction but remains his own man. Daniel Casimir's bass lines lock on to the drums, and add to the tight feel of the rhythm section.
The outstanding soloist however is Henry Armburg Jennings, who is as at home on a poised flugelhorn ballad as he is playing more fiery trumpet excursions. His playing on "What's New" is the highlight of a very accomplished disc. The record has brought off that rare double - enticing a listener to want to hear the band live, and providing a perfect memento of how it sounds to those who have experienced it in concert."


Nick Lea. Jazz Views
With much contemporary jazz that is currently being lauded for being cutting edge and pushing the boundaries of the music ever forward, Tracey and his men remind us of some of the essential ingredients of the music that is often missing.the ability to swing! From the outset, the band lay their cards on the table, recapturing that ability to propel the music with that irresistible foot tapping joy that lifts the both heart and spirits.more/less

The programme is a nice mixture of familiar compositions from the pens of Tony Williams and Cedar Walton, along with some cracking originals from the leader. The opener, Williams' 'Lawra' finds the two horns in a marvellously controlled duet with their lines flowing imaginatively with and around each other without ever clashing.

What is truly staggering is the tender age of the young turks that Tracey has surrounded himself with. All are under twenty five and all demonstrate an understanding of their chosen that belies their years. Of the front line, Trumpeter Armburg Jennings plays with real grace and maturity, whilst saxophonist Chris Maddock wields both alto and tenor with equal authority. Also, hear how the two horn men make short work of the breakneck tempo of 'Suddenly Last Tuesday', both playing solos that are alive with imaginative ideas that still permit the music to breathe and not simply a barrage of notes.

Not to be outdone, bassist Casimir and pianist Harry Bolt, the youngest member of the quintet at just twenty two, both get in fine solos as well as being the clue that hold the fabric of this invigorating music together. Casimir's solo on 'Rim Clicker' is absolutely top drawer, and if Bolt's comping skills also deserve a mention listen out for the intro to his solo on 'Ojos De Rojo'.

A timely reminder then of just what good jazz should be, from one of the most dynamic outfits on the scene. And if it gives some of our emerging young talent the opportunity to flex their muscles and gain some valuable playing experience then more power to them.

'Current Climate'
THE CLARK TRACEY SEXTET



CLARK TRACEY - drums
PAUL JORDANOUS - trumpet
PIERES GREEN - saxophone
KIT DOWNES - piano
LEWIS WRIGHT - vibes
RYAN TREBILCOCK - bass


CD ALSO AVAILABLE FROM TENTOTEN RECORDS

1. Bolivia (Cedar Walton)
2. Current Climate (Clark Tracey)
3. Export (Kit Downes)
4. Bemsha Swing (Thelonious Monk)
5. One By One (Wayne Shorter)
6. 5 Bellies (Ryan Trebilcock)
7. Devil's Chair (Clark Tracey)

Clark Tracey Sextet - 'Current Climate'
TTT CD 761
Chris Parker, Vortex Magazine
New Clark Tracey bands are always worth checking out, since the great drummer/leader has a keen ear for fresh talent, and the ability to nurture it in his consistently sparky outfits. - more/less
Here, he has recruited yet another lively, vigorous set of players whose poise and professionalism belie their relatively tender years: from the big band Pendulum, he's taken the bright, surefooted trumpeter Paul Jordanous and the agile altoist Piers Green; as a result of a brief encounter in the vibist's teens he's enlisted the extravagantly talented Lewis Wright; pianist Kit Downes, despite being only in his earliest twenties, needs no introduction to Vortex patrons, having delighted a packed club on numerous occasions in various outfits over the past couple of years; and bassist Ryan Trebilcock was originally recommended by his tutor Arnie Somogyi. The album begins with a suitably bright, peppy Cedar Walton composition, 'Bolivia', which puts the whole band enjoyably through its paces, then intersperses originals (Tracey's own moody title track; an intriguing Downes tune, 'Export', also to be found on Jake Goss's new album; Trebilcock's perky '5 Bellies' and Tracey's rollingly rhythmic 'Devil's Chair', from the Stiperstones suite first aired in the 1980s) with a couple of jazz classics: Monk's 'Bemsha Swing' and Wayne Shorter's Messengers staple, 'One by One'. Whatever their material, though, the sextet is an archetypal Clark Tracey band, breezily informal yet whip-smart, powerful in the soloing department yet mutually sensitive and perfectly cohesive, the whole flawlessly propelled by one of Europe's most accomplished drummers. Warmly recommended.


Tim Stenhouse, UK Vibe
Now sporting a brand new line up that sounds both fresh and cohesive, Clark Tracey returns with an excellent set of compositions that steers a judicious course between classic hard bop and post-bop territory and is far from derivative.more/less
In particular the inclusion of vibraphonist Lewis Wright adds a new dimension to the ensemble. The Cedar Walton piece ‘Bolivia’ is an ideal vehicle for the sextet which sounds like Bobby Hutcherson circa 1965 on Blue Note. Altoist Piers Green impresses with a restrained yet soulful solo. A Jazz Messengers staple ‘One by One’ from the pen of Wayne Shorter receives a light Latin vamp intro on piano from Kit Downes before various band members engage in solos. Most impressive of all the covers is a reworking of Monk’s ‘Bemsha Swing’ taken at a slightly slower pace than per usual and where the use of space both from vibes and bass solos offer a wholly different version from the original. However, this is by no means a covers only album, with four out of the seven lengthy pieces being originals, and various band members including the leader contribute some excellent compositions. Pianist Kit Downes offers the reflective ballad ‘Export’ with trumpet and vibes solos. New directions are hinted at on ‘Devil’s chair’, a reworking of a Clark Tracey original first heard on a previous album from the 1980s. The piece begins conventionally enough, but a third way through becomes somewhat freer in format and it is in this context that Wright on vibes plays a pivotal role before Tracey leads the sextet back into the theme. Overall this new sextet appears to have a whole variety of musical options at its disposal and it will it be fascinating to see in which of these directions they will head over subsequent albums and live settings.


Jack Massarik. Evening Standard.
Drummer-bandleader Clark Tracey is an Art Blakey disciple who believes, as Art did, in giving youth its chance. “Yessir, and when these kids get too old I’m gonna get me some younger ones,” Blakey would say. “It keeps the mind active.”
Hence pianist Kit Downes is the only established member of Clark’s latest line-up but trumpeter Paul Jordanous, vibist Lewis Wright, altoist Piers Green and bassist Ryan Trebilcock are all stars in the making. Playing standards by Monk, Cedar Walton, Wayne Shorter and four originals, this talented crew are sure to keep Britain’s straight-ahead jazz flame burning.

Dave Gelly, Observer
A genuinely new band, not just a rearrangement of familiar names. For three of the players, it is also their recording debut, not that you'd be able to tell. Clark Tracey has a flair for choosing musicians who set each other off and newcomers Paul Jordanous (trumpet) and Piers Green (alto sax) strike instant sparks. Bassist Ryan Trebilcock, another debutant, composed the most striking new piece, a spiky little thing curiously entitled "5 Bellies". Tracey himself presides at the drums. I suspect it will all sound even better live.

The Scotsman "another solid set of contemporary hard bop from the drummer's latest youthful line-up... they come across as a fresh and engaging combination."

second volume in the British Composers Series
'Given Time'
THE CLARK TRACEY QUARTET



CLARK TRACEY - drums
ARNIE SOMOGYI - double bass
GARETH WILLIAMS - piano
BRANDON ALLEN - saxophone


CD ALSO AVAILABLE FROM TENTOTEN RECORDS

1. C.U.C.B. (Bobby Wellins)
2. Seven Steps To Heaven (Victor Feldman)
3. So Near So Far (Tony Crombie, Benny Green)
4. Given Time (David Newton)
5. Cherokee (Ray Noble)
6. Who Can I Turn To (Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley)
7. Simple Simon (Tim Garland)
8. Smile (Charles Chaplin)
9. I Can't Get Started Either (Django Bates)

Clark Tracey Quartet - 'Given Time'
TTT CD 758

'The Mighty Sas'
THE CLARK TRACEY QUINTET



CLARK TRACEY - drums
& featuring
SIMON ALLEN - saxophones
MARK ARMSTRONG - trumpet & flugel
PETER BILLINGTON - acoustic & electric bass
ZOE RAHMAN - piano

SORRY SOLD OUT
CD PRICE : £12 (incl. p&p)
AVAILABLE AS DOWNLOADS FROM GIVE ME JAZZ

1. The Mighty SAS
2. The Camel
3. The Green Man
4. Nippon Soul
5. Online Slam
6. Lamia
7. Mama Flo
8. Choices

Clark Tracey Quintet - 'The Mighty SAS'
TTT CD 754

'British Standard Time'
THE CLARK TRACEY TRIO


CLARK TRACEY - drums & with
GARETH WILLIAMS - piano
ARNIE SOMOGYI - double bass

SORRY SOLD OUT
CD PRICE : £12 (incl. p&p)
AVAILABLE AS DOWNLOADS FROM GIVE ME JAZZ

1. Baby Blue (Stan Tracey)
2. Evans The Piano (Gareth Williams)
3. Off The Wagon (Tubby Hayes)
4. Juice (Don Weller)
5.Joshua (Victor Feldman)
6. Just You, Just Now (Clark Tracey)
7. Libella (Arnie Somogyi)
8. The Touch Of Your Lips (Ray Noble)
9. Lullaby Of Birdland (George Shearing)
10.Spring Time (Tommy Smith)

British Standard Time
TTT CDS 751
debut CD from the award winning Quintet.

'The Calling'
THE CLARK TRACEY QUINTET


featuring
MARK ARMSTRONG - trumpet/flugel
SIMON ALLEN - reeds
ZOE RAHMAN - piano
PETER BILLINGTON - ac/el bass


CD ALSO AVAILABLE FROM TENTOTEN RECORDS

1. Live Fast, Die Young
2. The Calling
3. Tears In Rain
4. The Hitchhiker
5. Elba Mel Delba
6. Fourplay
7. Music When Soft Voices Die
8. For Tony Williams
recorded 2nd June, 2003.
Clark Tracey Quintet- 'The Calling'
TTT CDS 750

'Stability'
CLARK TRACEY


Clark Tracey - drums
Guy Barker - trumpet
Andy Shepherd - saxophone
Tommy Smith - saxophone
Iain Bellamy - saxophone
Nigel Hitchcock - saxophone
Christine Tobin - vocals
Gareth Williams - violin
Arnie Somogyi - bass
Laurence Cottle - bass
plus the Locrian String Quartet


CD ALSO AVAILABLE FROM TENTOTEN RECORDS

1. Gone
2. Black Coffee
3. Lounge Blues
4. Ugly Beauty
5. Sunshower
6. The Peacocks
7. Giant Steps
8. Stability
9. Melancholia
10. Boaz


photos by Berit Bolt
Clark Tracey - 'Stability'
LINN AKD 159
recording 'Stability'

following 3 albums are no longer available
album : 'Bootleg Eric' - NEWTON TRACEY BAND

Dave Newton - piano
Clark Tracey - drums
Guy Barker - trumpet
Don Weller - saxophone
Alan Barnes - saxophone
Mark Nightingale - trombone
Iain Dixon - saxophone
Andrew Cleyndert - bass

Dave Newton/Clark Tracey - 'Bootleg Eric'
album : 'Full Speed Sideways' - CLARK TRACEY SEXTET

Clark Tracey - drums
Nigel Hitchcock - alto saxophone
Dave O'Higgins - tenor saxophone
Mark Nightingale - trombone
John Donaldson - piano
Arnie Somogyi - bass

Clark Tracey Sextet - 'Full Speed Sideways'
album : 'We've Been Expecting You' - CLARK TRACEY QUINTET

Clark Tracey - drums
Guy Barker - trumpet
Jamie Talbot - saxophones
Steve Melling - piano
Alec Dankworth - bass

Clark Tracey Quintet - 'We've Been Expecting You'