The end of an amazing few days, in emotional and creative terms. was the gig by Stan Tracey, Clark Tracy and Evan Parker.
On several levels: I loved the fact that Stan Tracey and Clark had equal billing. "Stan AND Clark" unlike the usual Stan Tracey Trio WITH Clark Tracey. His playing was amazing for someone aged well over 80, and the delicacy of the duo with Evan was spellbinding.
Other highlights:
Hans Koller giving an outing to his big band and playing the music from his new album
Empirical's new music which sounds so much and extension of Steve Lehman and the New York scene. (Well, Nat Facey has had lessons from Lehman, and they all trekked up to his gig in Birmingham, so what can one expect?) (Funny to hear that George Fogle is not allowed to be a full member of Empirical because they are being marketed as a quartet. The label won't pay for the recording if they convert to a five piece.)
A delicate encore of Evan playing with Django's Beloved Bird. Django playing perfectly placed chords.
(I have to confess that I missed most of the rest of the gig!?)
Alex Hawkins playing "covers" of Leroy Jenkins and Anthony Braxton.
But that ends a 10 day period which also included Ingrid Laubrock's Anti House with new hubby Tom R, and Mary Halvorson, Steve Lehman's first gig in the UK, Phil Robson blowing the house down for 2 nights with Mark Turner, and placed in there too, Mike Westbrook.
So a perfect blend of the statesmen of British jazz, along with the best new sounds from New York, London and a few from elsewhere (e.g. Django's band!)
(P.S. This image is of Stan Tracey with a reflection in the glass of one of the paintings.)
