Album: Stan Tracey Big Band

The British pianist's back catalogue has been taken in hand by his son, Clark, and, to a large extent, is coming out on CD for the first time. This Abbey Road-recorded gem from 1966 finds Tracey in typical quasi-programmatic mode in front of a modest big band, featuring Messrs Scott, Wellins, Hayes and Wheeler to name but four. It's brittle, edgy, swinging in that buttoned-down British way and slightly shiny round the cuffs. You can keep Monk out of Stan for only so long. And to think this was going down in Studio One while the Beatles were limbering up next door for 'Revolver'... Recommended.