Stan Tracey’s A Childs Christmas Jazz Suite
- Mike Wilkins - Tenor Saxophone
- Martin Pickett - Piano
- Steve Kershaw - Double Bass
- Mike Goff - Drums
- Tom Neill - Narrator
Following their sold-out performance of Under Milk Wood Jazz Suite, the Mike Goff Quartet return with a second Stan Tracey classic, this time inspired by Dylan Thomas' much-loved short story, A Child's Christmas In Wales.
With antics in the snow, snoring uncles, doting aunts, and an errant hippopotamus, Thomas' nostalgic tale evokes the happiest memories of Christmases past. Energetically interpreted and elevated in seven tunes by the great British composer Stan Tracey, and played in full by the region's top performers, A Child's Christmas In Wales promises new memories to cherish this festive season.
Very much in the mold of Stan's landmark recording Under Milk Wood Suite from the Sixties, this was another popular story in the Tracey household at that time and ever since.
"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. I hope the music reflects some of the pleasure it has given me." - Stan Tracey.
Mike Wilkins: Birmingham Conservatoire and Leeds College Of Music alumni. A regular soloist at The Rose And Crown in Oxford, Goring Community Jazz Club, Ma Bessie's Pig Foot Band, as well as guest soloist at Windsor's Jazz Vanguard. Mike also plays with Big Colors and Blake's Heaven big bands.
Tom Neill: Acting work includes national tours of The Great Gatsby, The Cherry Orchard, Benjamin Britten's Death In Venice & Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. Also a composer with commissions for Battle Festival, Reading Council, Alleyne Dance and BAFTA nominated film Mighty Penguins, amongst others.
