Clark Tracey Drums
Alex Clarke Alto & Tenor Sax
Graham Harvey Piano
Emily Masser Vocals
James Owston Double Bass
“One of the most impressive jazz drummers today” – The Times
Clark Tracey, a multiple winner of Best Drums in the British Jazz Awards, returns with a new quintet, again featuring some of the most gifted young jazz musicians. Alex Clarke, who won Rising Star in the British Jazz Awards two years ago and bassist James Owston were both past finalists in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year competition while Emily Masser is a 20-year-old rising star vocalist. Graham Harvey, one of our most experienced pianists who, over three decades has played with many top jazz and pop artists, including George Benson and Stacey Kent, completes a great line up.
Clark Tracey, a well-established jazz master, recognised as a most inventive jazz drummer, is a proven group leader, writer and arranger, having appeared over many years with the world’s jazz greats. He creates educational Master Classes across the U.K. and continues to be an in-demand performer across the world.
Alex Clarke performs a range of genres from New Orleans to bebop and her musical voice is steeped in the tradition of jazz. Her deep respect for the heritage of the music can be heard in her swinging, melodic sound which is reminiscent of Scott Hamilton and Lester Young and also heavily influenced by Phil Woods and Cannonball Adderley.
From 2006 to the present Graham Harvey has been the pianist for singer Stacey Kent, touring extensively and recording several albums for Blue Note, including the Grammy nominated ‘Breakfast on the Morning Tram’. He is a much sought after freelancer who has played with major artists including Dave O’Higgins, Alan Barnes, M People, Chaka Khan, Jocelyn Brown and Mica Paris.
20-year-old vocalist Emily Masser currently studying jazz vocals at the Guildhall School of Music is an astonishing vocalist. Her vocalese has already introduced her to hardened jazzers, including Claire Martin and Liane Carroll who have both endorsed her and invited her to sit in with them.
James Owston is a graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire who joined the Clark Tracey Quintet in 2017. As well as being an active sideman, James leads his own groups, notably ‘The James Owston Mingus Quintet’ that focuses on the compositions and style of the great Charles Mingus, a strong influence for James as a bass player and composer.
“(Alex Clarke is) one of the UK’s finest young jazz talents” – The Jazz Rag
“(Alex Clarke has a) strong and full sound… swinging, melodic and refreshingly cliché-free” – Jazz Views
“Harvey is very much one of the unsung heroes of British jazz and the wider music scene as a whole” – The Jazz Mann