The Later Works(2CDs) Resteamed ****

The astringent elegance of Stan Tracey’s writing is a distinguishing feature of these two previously unrecorded suites, the Hong Kong and the Amandla, composed for commissions in the 1990s; the first is a farewell to colonial rule, the second a celebration of trade union mergers.

If Tracey's pungently personal piano, part of a fine rhythm section with Andy Cleyndert (bass) and Clark Tracey (drums), is rarely featured, that's compensated for by the stellar solo strength of Guy Barker (trumpet), Mark Nightingale (trombone), Simon Allen (tenor), Mornington Lockett (tenor/soprano) and Sammy Mayne (alto). The ensemble power and variety of colour they offer, too, are used with consistent deftness and imagination, creating a huge sound. It's epitomised even in the simple blues form of the sumptuous Moon Cakeand Cottons Bobbins,from Hong Kongand Amandlarespectively.

See stantracey.com