Jasmine Records Stan TRACEY - Little Klunk c/w Showcase CD

Stan Tracey is one of the finest jazz pianists and composers, not merely in his native Britain, or in Europe, but in the world. This is a welcome re-issue of two albums from the late 1950's. Showcase is a collection, as one may guess, of songs from musicals, many which have become standards in the jazz world. Here, Tracey is still finding his feet, as it were, on the piano, and his distinctive style hadn't fully formed. That isn't to say it's not superbly executed: it's a very enjoyable set. Little Klunk, named after a cartoon character, came a year afterwards, when Tracey's distinctive, indeed unique, style had fully emerged. Backed by Kenny Napper And Phil Seaman, Tracey's composing and playing are first-rate. It's all great stuff, but listen most of all to the brooding masterpiece "Boo-Bah".