"Under Milk Wood . . . a work of art that has stood the test of time, and is likely to continue to do so. And only the best manage that!" - Jazzwise
Stan Tracey @ 100
“A Child's Christmas is a worthy successor to its illustrious 1960s predecessor, Under Milk Wood."
- London Jazz News
Sunday, 20th December
Clark Tracey Sextet
perform Under Milk Wood & A Child's Christmas
30th December, 2026, would have been pianist Stan Tracey's 100th birthday, and to commemorate the occasion his son, Clark, has assembled a stellar group of musicans to perform his father's two groundbreaking albums celebrating the genius of Dylan Thomas: Under Milk Wood and A Child's Christmas.
One of the most celebrated and timeless recordings, the Stan Tracey Quartet's jazz suite, inspired by the Welsh poet's Under Milk Wood, was first released in 1965 and is widely revered as a landmark, iconic masterpiece of British jazz, and is often cited as one of the finest UK jazz albums ever made.
One of the UK's foremost jazz musicians, Stan was hugely inspired by the 1953 BBC Radio play of Under Milk Wood, and subsequently composed eight thematic compositions which he recorded with his quartet, comprising saxophonist Bobby Wellins, bassist Jeff Clyne and drummer Jackie Dougan.
From the jaunty Monk-like, salty swing of Cockle Row, to Under Milk Wood's exquisite, haunting mood and the blistering bluesy-bop of A.M. Mayhem, the music's broad, imaginative scope still stands the test of time today.
One part social history and nine parts pure spirit. A Child's Christmas was Stan's follow-up to Under Milk Wood.
Commented Stan at the time: "I've always had a particular fondness for A Child's Christmas in Wales because it evokes so many memories of the festival when I was a child. I was, therefore, delighted when Clark suggested that I should write something based on Dylan's story and wondered why I hadn't thought of it first."
Stan’s joyously pungent pieces reflect the spirit of Thomas’s prose-poem perfectly, and upn its release in 2011, the album was praised by critics and fans for being evocative, beautiful, British and cool, and a worthy successor to Under Milk Wood.
This is a rare opportunity to hear two suites in one concert, performed by the crème de la crème of UK jazz musicians, and accompanied by an impeccably expressive narrative.
Simon Allen (Tenor, Alto & Soprano Saxophones) Gareth Williams (Piano) Andrew Cleyndert (Double Bass) Clark Tracey (Drums) Ben Tracey & Sharon White (Narration)