Ticket link : https://www.wegottickets.com/event/618314

Clark Tracey, a well-established jazz master, recognised as a most inventive jazz drummer, composer, educator and bandleader, having appeared over forty years in the company of some of the world’s jazz greats, presents his new quintet, providing a platform for our most outstanding young musicians.

A Five-Time Winner of “Best Drummer” in the British Jazz Awards, Clark Tracey has built a reputation since the early ‘80s as a talent spotter of future stars of the British jazz scene; Guy Barker, Alex Ridout, Daniel Casimir, Zoe Rahman and Mark Armstrong, to name just a few. Clark was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2019 Birthday Honours for services to music and the promotion of jazz.

The Quintet have recently released their debut CD, “Introducing Emily Masser”, on Clark’s label Stray Horn Records, followed by a national tour in April and May of 20 dates.

Alex Clarke on alto and tenor saxophones is aged 23 and won the Rising Star in the British Jazz Awards in 2019 and was a finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician in 2020. She was also a nominee in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards in 2021 and 2022. In 2022 she successfully released her debut CD “Only A Year” with Dave Newton, Dave Green and Clark.

Emily Masser is an astonishing vocalist, still 20 years of age and attending the Guildhall School of Music. Her vocalese has already impressed hardened jazz vocalists, including Claire Martin and Liane Carroll who have both endorsed Emily and shared their stage with her. Daughter of saxophonist Dean Masser, her years belie her considerable talent, which began at Chetham’s School of Music.

Graham Harvey on piano is one of our most experienced pianists, having studied at Berkley College in Boston, becoming MD of Incognito, currently Stacey Kent’s pianist and is now much sought after as a freelancer playing with major stars including Dave O’Higgins, Alan Barnes and Mark Nightingale.

James Owston on double bass is 27, a graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and a runner up in the BBC Young Jazz Musician Finals a few years ago. In our opinion, he is the most technically gifted and competent hard swinging upright bassists in this country, as attested to by the variety of musicians he currently works with.