Simon Allen – sax
Art Themen – sax
Dave Newton – piano
Andrew Cleyndert – Bass
Clark Tracey – drums
With a career spanning over four decades, Clark Tracey is a powerhouse of British jazz. He’s toured across the globe, played with legends like Pharoah Sanders and Buddy DeFranco, and picked up six British Jazz Awards along the way. Now, he’s bringing his latest group of jazz stars – his “Champions” – to Wavendon for a performance that promises both deep groove and sparkling improvisation.
This is more than just a gig – it’s a chance to experience the legacy of jazz royalty up close in our intimate, historic venue. Whether you’re a seasoned jazz head or simply curious, you’ll be swept up in the energy, the talent, and the sheer joy of live performance. So come and spend your morning with one of the UK’s greatest drummers and his hand-picked ensemble of this country's jazz greats.
You won’t want to miss this. Clark has put together a stellar line up of the most established and well respected musicians from the UK jazz scene. Formed in 2024, Clark partly pays tribute to his legendary father, Stan Tracey’s compositions. Themen and Allen were both front men for Stan for many years, while Clark’s association with Newton and Cleyndert also spans 40 years. Other material centres around tunes that have meant a lot to Clark throughout his career, all vibrant, exciting tunes that have been pleasing audiences up and down the country.
Finding a niche in the market for a band of world class performers of a certain generation, The Jazz Champions have been rightly experiencing sell out houses, alongside stand out reviews, this band now being Clark's main focus in his jazz life.
