One of the most gifted jazz musicians Britain has ever produced.
(BENNY GREEN)
One of the finest jazz composers in the world. (HUMPHREY LYTTELTON) The subject of these accolades, and many more, was born on 30 December 1926 in South London. He still lives there - fame in jazz circles has brought Stan Tracey no fortune. An entirely self-taught musician, he joined ENSA as an accordionist on his 16th birthday. At 18 he fell in love with jazz, took up the piano and set about mastering the crafts of composer and arranger. Of the 150 Tracey compositions, the most steadily popular has been his Jazz Suite ' inspired by Dylan Thomas 's Under Milk Wood.
In this film STAN TRACEY tells his own story, plays solo piano, duets with MIKE OSBORNE and leads his quartet and octet. He also gives a glimpse of his teaching methods.
Do watch this one. (DAILY MAIL) Low-key but glowing. (THE OBSERVER) An absorbing, not to say loving documentary. (THE GUARDIAN) Film editor PETER WEST
Producer GEOFFREY HAYDON