When saxophonist Benjamin Herman states that in Holland, British jazz sometimes is treated like a changeling, he is absolutely right. Next to the renowned Chris Barber, the Dixieland trombonist that most of us know, lots of sublime jazz musicians inhabit the British Isles. The 80-year-old Stan Tracey is one of them. His recording of the jazz-suite Under Milkwood, inspired by Dylan Thomas' famous radio and stage play, is still considered to be the absolute masterpiece of British jazz. In 2005 Benjamin Herman, together with trombonist Bart van Lier hit the studios with this talented pianist and his
trio to record the album The London Session. The explosive music was recorded in four hours without any overdubs. The sound of their mutual North Sea Jazz performance this year won't yield to this crackling semi-live session.
