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Stan Tracey, Guy Barker &
Benjamin Herman
@ the Pizza Express Jazz Club
12 November 2006
Click an image to enlarge.
Stan Tracey biography
With a career spanning over 50 years, pianist,
composer and arranger Stanley William Tracey has been a pivotal
figure on the British and international Jazz scene. Ronnie Scott
hired Self-taught Tracey as his House pianist in 1960. A seven year
residency would see Tracey perform with many visiting Jazz greats
such as Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Rollins, Sonny Sitt, Dexter Gordon,
Ben Webster and Zoot Sims to name a few. Tracey also formed his
own band, which included Bobby Wellins, Peter King and Art Themen.
In 1965, Tracey released the acclaimed “Under
Milk Wood Suite”, a lyrical setting to Dylan Thomas’s
play for voices. A year later he produced the inspirational “Alice
in Jazzland”. Tracey has since progressed to produce more
than 45 albums, many on his label Steam Records.
In 1985, Stan Tracey was awarded the OBE, he was
also voted International Jazz Musician of the year. The Guardian/Wire
Award for best composer of the year would be added to Tracey’s
growing list of achievements in 1989. “We Still Love you Madly”
was voted the best album of the year in 1990.
Tracey has toured extensively as well as appearing
on specific television programmes, documenting his status among
British jazz greats. Further recognition has come in the form of
a BASCA Award (for services to the British Music Industry) and honorary
membership of the Royal Academy Of Music.
Guy Barker biography
Trumpeter and composer Guy Barker began playing
the trumpet at age 12. He joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra
a year later. Barker would receive tuition from Clark Terry in 1975
and would progress to play with John Dankworth, Gil Evans, Lena
Horne and Bobby Watson.
Barker was a member of Clark Tracey’s quintet
(Stan Tracey’s son) from 1984 to 1992. His services are still
called upon by Tracey junior (and senior) on a regular basis. In
fact, Tracey has been called to support many internationally renown
musicians, such as Frank Sinatra, Ornette Coleman, Carla Bley, Georgie
Fame, Cleo Lane, Mike Westbrook and Chris Hunter. Barker has also
guested on recordings by Sting, George Michael and Carmel.
Barker leads his own band, featuring an international
mix of musicians such as Perico Sambeat (alto saxophone), Bernardo
Sassetti (piano), Geoff Gascoyne (bass) and Gene Calderazzo (drums).
Benjamin Herman biography
Like Guy Barker, Benjamin Herman was 12 when he
started to play the saxophone, his professional career began a year
later. Herman is currently based in Amsterdam, but he has toured
extensively with various sized groups, and performed at North Sea
Jazz Festival. At 21 Herman received the Wessel Ilcken prize for
best young jazz musician of the year. After graduating with honours
at Hilversum Conservatory Herman studied with Dick Oatts at Manhattan
School of Music in New York.
In 1999, Challenge records invited Herman to record
an album in New York with leading American jazz musicians. The critically
acclaimed “Get In” (which features Idris Muhammad on
drums) was released. Further successful live performances would
follow.
Herman is part of the ‘New Cool Collective’.
An eight piece band who have a strong fan base, impressive tour
and festival resume, including the North Sea Jazz Festival in 1997.
October 1999 saw the release of “Big” (NCC’s third
release). This album received an Edison Jazz Award in 2000. Georgie
Fame and Trijntje Oosterhuis are among the major artists who appear
on the album.
Benjamin Herman is a much sought-after soloist.
To date he has performed with artists such as Candy Dulfer, Lois
Lane, Michael Borstlap, Georgie Fame, Larry Goldings, Misha Mengelberg
and Rein de Graaf.
Musicians:
Stan Tracey – piano, Guy Barker – trumpet
Benjamin Herman – saxophone
Robin Francis
© Michael Valentine Studio
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