Tracey, Stan(ley William) 1926-
British jazz pianist, bandleader and composer

Born in London, he was largely self-taught. After working with dance orchestras such as the Roy Fox and Ted Heath Bands as well as with modern jazz groups in the 1950s, he was house pianist from 1960-67 at Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho, accompanying many leading contemporary touring musicians. He developed a distinctive, angular, percussive keyboard style, rooted in Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington, but with his own distinctive flavour. Since the mid-1960s he has led a succession of bands from quartets to 16-piece orchestras, has toured abroad and has written jazz suites such as Under Milk Wood (1965) and Genesis (1987). He recorded for the Blue Note label in the 1990s. In 1992 he was voted best pianist of the year at the British Jazz Awards and best composer/arranger in 1995. He was made a Fellow of the City of Leeds College of Music in 1993. His son, drummer Clark Tracey (1961- ), is also an important jazz musician.