The Stan Tracey Quartet "With Love From Jazz". UK Jazz 1960s LP.

	£		93
	$		123

An extremely rare and hard to find 1960s UK Jazz Stereo LP record

 

The Stan Tracey Quartet "With Love From Jazz". Extremely Rare UK Jazz from 1960s.     EMI Columbia SCX 6205 (Stereo) Release 1968. First Pressing. (YAX 3523-1 / YAX 3524-1)   This is so rare that some Tracey discographies don't even list it!   The Quartet comprises it's usual line up in 1967, Tracey on Piane,vibes and Celeste, Bobby wellins on Tenor Sax, Dave Green on Bass and Jackie Dougan on drums. For one track the last two are replaced by Lennie Bush and Ronnie Stephenson respectively.   This original version has eight tracks. A CD re-issue from 2005 had an extra track and completely different artwork.     A Review of the CD version issued in 2005. For those still living in the afterglow of Tracey's wonderful Radio 2 broadcast from London's Mermaid Theatre a few weeks ago, this will be a treat. Recorded in 1967, two years after Under Milk Wood, it features the same inimitable partnership of Tracey's piano and the tenor saxophone of Bobby Wellins.

Whenever these two are together, the sparks fly, not in a competitive sense, but because they both have devious musical imaginations and because the warm, melting saxophone and the purposeful piano create an eloquent contrast. The slow ballad 'Amoroso, Only Moreso' is almost unbearably poignant. Everything about these eight Tracey originals is so sharp and inventive that it's hard to believe that they are almost 40 years old. Tracey and Wellins remain among the most creative figures in European jazz.

Dave Gelly - Sunday July 17, 2005
The Observer Notes Reissue - © Andrew Cleyndert, May 2005
Stan Tracey's ‘Under Milk Wood’ is understandably hailed as one of the most important recordings in the history of jazz in Britain, getting recognition well beyond the shores of these Isles. Through his original composition and unique, uncompromising voice on the piano Stan established himself as an artist of international stature.

Two years after that recording was made and coinciding with the year that he left behind his stint as house pianist at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club, Stan made another album ‘With Love From Jazz’ which came out virtually un-noticed mainly because it received no promotion at the time. However, amongst Stan's many loyal fans this album did not pass by un-noticed and is regarded in those circles as at least as good as the earlier ‘Under Milk Wood’ recording. ‘With Love From Jazz’ again featured a suite composed by Stan, this time based on the tragi-comedy of human love. The titles alone reveal that this was a fertile ground of inspiration for Stan's compositional skills. Each tune is a timeless masterpiece. The ballads especially illustrate Stan's skill in producing a melody that is both poignant and compassionate, but just as with his playing never tips over into self-indulgent sentimentality.

The result is music of the highest order. The compositions here are perhaps far more personal than the earlier suite and clearly portray Stan's dry cynical wit on the one side and his evident understanding and compassion for the human condition on the other. It is not only the compositional element that makes this album so special. As with ‘Under Milk Wood’ this album also features a very special musical partnership between Stan and the saxophonist Bobby Wellins. Bobby is one of the few players on his horn that can be unfailingly recognised by his playing of just one note. In an environment where most of the jazz scene appeared to be trying to 'play catch up' with what was happening on the other side of the Atlantic Bobby appeared with his own unique voice and approach to improvisation which, whilst steeped in the jazz tradition of the great voices on his instrument, stole nothing from them and seemingly made no attempt to incorporate others into his own approach.

In an art form where lines of influence can easily be drawn back from many of even the greatest of jazz musicians, there are few that appear with such a unique voice from the start. It is hard to imagine any other horn player bringing out the beauty of Stan's writing as well as offsetting Stan's piano playing so perfectly. The mix of Bobby's fragile haunting tone against Stan's highly subtle but more robust piano playing is a very special partnership. Finally, there is one more aspect that sets this album apart from the earlier quartet album. On ‘Under Milk Wood’ Jeff Clyne on bass and Jackie Dougan on drums take a more supportive accompanying role. On ‘With Love From Jazz’ the quartet becomes a far more inclusive co-operative unit. A young Dave Green makes his presence felt with an authority that is going to make him the most popular bassist on the UK scene to this day. Jackie Dougan is equally impressive on drums and his playing here is fiery but never overbearing. Sparks are constantly flying between the musicians. It is a recording of a working quartet that has managed to capture the evasive quality that makes jazz such a special art form, both the expression of individuality and the special communication between all the participants. Special mention should also be made of the contributions of the late Ronnie Stephenson and Lennie Bush on the final track. Lennie Bush in particular reveals a maturity and command on his instrument and contributes a great bass solo.     Condition Vinyl - Excellent, it looks and plays near mint, no scratches and no pops or clicks. Shows very little evidence of play. Cover - Slight scuffing on part of top edge and near the bottom of the open side. Laminated front is very glossy and so difficult to photograph as evidenced by the reflection of the photographer in the photograph! It has a few creases and a ring mark that is comensurate with its age. On the matt reverse the graphics and sleeve notes are clean and clear with some fading on the open edge. Inner sleeve - Clean and intact with just slight fading at the edges.  

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