Stan Tracey: 1926 - 2013
He was never a household name like pianists Dave Brubeck, Thelonius Monk, Oscar Peterson or Chick Corea, and was often confused with Stan Kenton. But Stan Tracey, who died on 6th December 2013, was one of England's greatest exponent of jazz piano and will be much missed by his contemporaries and fans alike.
The son of a nightclub bartender, Tracey was born in South London and at an early age taught himself to play the piano accordion
He was conscripted into the RAF and became a member of the Gang Show working with such luminaries as Tony Hancock and Peter Sellers. At about that time, he caught the jazz bug and earned a living on transatlantic liners following the rhythms that were still largely unknown in the UK, but were burgeoning in the USA.
In Britain, he worked with the dance bands of Roy Fox and Ted Heath, and in 1959 recorded Little Klunk, an album of his own composition. Soon after, he became the house pianist at Ronnie Scott's now legendary nightclub in Soho, London. It was there that Tracey began working with the likes of Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz and Wes Montgomery.
In 1965 he composed the eight-part suite "Under Milk Wood" based upon the writings of Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas. Soon came Alice In Jazzland, Seven Ages of Man, and The Poets’ Suite. Later he founded his own record label (Steam), and in 1986 was appointed CBE.
Easily recognised by his distinct playing style, usually by hunching over the keyboard and expertly hammering out his unique lyrical rhythms whilst providing amusing and unexpected riffs and fills, Tracey was a pivotal part of the English jazz scene and is up there with the greats.
He was 86 years old, and that's another British classic gone.
— Big End
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