I booked Stan and Clarke his son to play at the Erin Arts Centre in Port Erin in the Isle of Man along with Art Themen on tenor horn, they wanted Roy Babbington on double bass and Roy used my bass for the quartet gig, I remember having to jack up the bridge as his strong technique was making the strings buzz in some positions. I picked Stan and Clarke up from the airport and drove them in my Morris 1000 traveller to Port Erin where there was around half an hour spare time after the tune up, and Stan wanted to take a walk outside the venue and take a smoke before the gig. Halfway round the building he pulled out a joint and to my horror lit it up and passed it to me to puff upon. I had never smoked weed, and in deference to his generosity, I took a puff. We talked a bit longer and went inside to start the music. The first tune that they chose to play was " Out of Nowhere" and I sat very stoned in the audience, thinking that they must have been playing that one tune for at least an hour such was the effect of the weed. To say that the audience loved the music is an understatement. Stan was such a gentle soul, and such an inventive player, he is sadly missed and greatly loved.
Brill story. I toured with Keith Tippett and made a record with him, Pat Thomas and Howard Riley, good times and Stan reminds me of Keith in some way, the sideburns too. Very difficult to get gigs at the mo in England, for Free Players. Also done a fair bit of playing and a record with Evan Parker. Do you still promote gigs, I'm a pianist.
I think this is from 1977, at least that's when it was broadcast. I saw it as a 15 year old and recorded the audio on to a cassette tape, hanging a microphone over the TV speaker. Lost, decades ago, I've been searching for a video recording ever since. Here it is! Thank you. A pity it freezes near the end.
Yes I think it is from 1977. Always wanted to see it again. Stan was an incredible talent. Sorely miss his tinkling of the ivories. Unique and brilliant style. Truly the Godfather of British jazz.
Fascinating! thanks for putting this on here. I too saw him with his trio in his later years. Poole Arts Centre and Tivoli theatre Wimborne. despite his age at that time, I thought he played amazing. (I first heard of Stan Tracey from "Sounds of Jazz" with Peter Clayton, Sunday night on BBC Radio 1)
Not seen this doc. before ....I can remember seeing a later one that featured both your mum and dad ... Saw Stan's octet many times at the bull's head in the mid to late 80s....Britain has defo. produced world class jazz musicians ..as good as anything in the world
My froze at 47 mins. However, good to see Stan again. I had the pleasure of seeing hime live on three occasions in his latter years. Always exciting, but some of his "free form" stuff left me cold.
