Clark Tracey

Born on 5 February 1961 in London, England, Tracey took up the drums in childhood and frequently collaborated with his father, Stan Tracey. Although his initial professional work leaned toward rock, this approach created friction within the jazz ensembles he joined. By the early 1980s, however, his time alongside Red Rodney, Charlie Rouse and James Moody had clearly shaped a more jazz-inflected style. Appearances with touring Americans, groups directed by his peers and Stan Tracey, plus leadership of his own quartet, quintet and sextet allowed steady artistic growth.

During the 1990s Tracey emerged as a leading member of Britain’s rising cohort of young jazz musicians. In the middle of the decade he formed the Tribute To Art Blakey band and co-directed an octet with David Newton while continuing to helm his sextet and quintet. An adept arranger and composer, he has supplied music to the Berkshire Youth Jazz Orchestra as well as vocalists Claire Martin and Tina May. Several well-received TenToTen albums followed, among them the British Composers Series entries British Standard Time (2001) and Given Time (2008).