FANSOFSTAN are bringing back their man to the Maltings Arts Theatre in St Albans next month.

And tickets for what is fast turning out to be the annual St Albans concert by the Godfather of British Jazz, Stan Tracey, and organised by his local fans are selling fast.

Pianist Stan is a resident of the city where he moves around largely anonymously but on October 16 at the city centre theatre, there will be no mistaking him.

At 83, he spans the history of British modern jazz, right from his days as house pianist at Ronnie Scott’s in the sixties. His work from solo piano to big band is instantly recognisable and he is a prolific composer who has performed his suite Genesis at the Proms last year and has played his own arrangement of Ellington’s Sacred Music at cathedrals all over the country – although not yet at St Albans.

Despite his advancing years, there is no let up in Stan’s busy schedule – as well as monthly gigs in Barnes, he is much in demand at jazz festivals and the pace on recording and reissues has been stepped up.

Stan is appearing at the Maltings with the usual members of his trio – Andrew Cleyndert on bass and son Clark on drums. The two front men this time are his long-term stalwarts Mornington Lockett on saxophones and Mark Nightingale on trombone.