6 December 2007 - Music Outside is officially published on 1 January, however, if you are really keen to get it sooner, you can order it now directly from: Northway Publications, 39 Tytherton Road London N19 4PZ, Price £15.99 inc P+P, cheques need to be in sterling on UK bank accounts and made payable to 'Northway Publications'. We are informed that the publishers have just received stocks of the book from the printers!
9 November 2007 - Rare footage of the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble has been posted onto You Tube and one track (Be Bop Rock by Wolfgang Dauner) features solos by Kenny Wheeler and Ian Carr. It can be viewed from this link here
25 October 2007 - After 37 years, Ian Carr's former employer, the late Harold McNair has his album 'The Fence' re-issued for the first time on CD. This album, in a cardboard replica sleeve comes complete with a booklet of liner notes and photographs plus 5 bonus tracks taken from Harold McNair's eponymously titled album from 1968. It is available now on the Bodyheat Records label (BHR-904).
19 October 2007 - A double CD compilation 'Kind Of Jazz - Jazz Rock' compiled by Jazztronik, was released on 25 July 2007 by Universal, Japan and amongst many great tracks by British, German and American musicians including Tony Williams, Peter Herbolzheimer, Mike Westbrook and Graham Collier there are three titles by Ian Carr / Nucleus: 'Remadione' by Brian Smith, 'Elastic Rock' by Karl Jenkins and 'Persephone's Jive' by Ian Carr. Catalogue number UICZ-8029/30 (2CD）
29 September 2007 - Ian Carr better trumpeter than Miles shock, horror, probe! Jazz musician and Private Eye contributor Barry Fantoni has recently gone on record as saying "I think Ian Carr is a better trumpet player than Miles Davis". This controversial statement was heard when Barry was the guest on BBC Radio 3's weekly programme 'Private Passions' and one of the two jazz records he chose for the programme was Ian's "Open Country" from his "Northumberland Sketches" suite (the other was "Blood Count" by the Duke Ellington Orchestra).
20 September 2007 - Following news of the death of Paul Rutherford (see 7 August) the death has just been announced of another great British jazz stalwart, the legendary alto player, Mike Osborne who had played in Mike Westbrook's various early bands, Brotherhood of Breath and with John Surman and Alan Skidmore had been a member of the saxophone trio, S.O.S.
16 September 2007 - In the last months of his life at the 1991 Montreux Jazz Festival, Miles Davis played a concert revisiting the famous Gil Evans scores. Miles was in poor health and to share the burden of the solos he chose the young trumpeter Wallace Roney. He had befriended Roney and Wikipedia says that Roney was the only trumpeter Miles personally mentored. At the end of the concert Miles gave his trumpet to the young player. (See Ian's biography of Miles, 'The Final Chapter' ). A few weeks later Miles was dead. Recently the Wallace Roney band played a short stint at Ronnie Scotts in London (Summer 2007). Wallace sent an email via this website inviting Ian to be his guest. Ian assumed that Wallace wanted to discuss Miles, but there turned out to be more than that. Wallace Roney told Ian that he was heavily indebted to Ian and Nucleus and wanted to express his gratitude. As a young trumpeter, he had found Ian's style and the music of Nucleus a great inpiration to him and a huge influence on his playing. He had always wanted to meet Ian to thank him.
14 August 2007 - The new address for this website is now: http://www.iancarrsnucleus.net which has been acquired in order to put the site on a more 'professional' footing (even though this is still a strictly non-commercial website) and to eliminate the forced advertising of the previous free of charge website. It also allows much more expansion space and per hour traffic. Please remember to bookmark this new site NOW!
7 August 2007 - 'Music Outside', Ian Carr's seminal book on contemporary British jazz is to be republished by Northway Publications towards the end of the year. This will be the first time the book has been republished in over 30 years. It has been long out of print and has fetched very high prices on the secondhand book market. The book is highly sought after by all fans of British modern jazz and features chapters on Mike Westbrook, John Surman, John Stevens, Ian Carr and Nucleus, Jon Hiseman and many others. More news when we have it on this important publication.
7 August 2007 - The great British contemporary jazz trombonist Paul Rutherford has died. He was 67. He was best known for his work in Iskra 1903 with Derek Bailey and Barry Guy and also for playing with various Mike Westbrook bands. RIP Paul.
26 July 2007 - A review of the first time release of Mike Taylor Remembered (with Ian Carr and the New Jazz Orchestra) is viewable here
23 July 2007 - The never before released recording of Mike Taylor compositions by Neil Ardley's New Jazz Orchestra entitled "Mike Taylor Remembered", will be released on August 27th on the Dusk Fire record label. The recording, which took place at Denis Preston's Lansdowne Studios in London in 1973, features Ian Carr, Norma Winstone and Jon Hiseman amongst others. Full details can be seen on the Dusk Fire website
22 June 2007 - A newly obtained photograph of Ian Carr with John Smallwood taken in Santa Fe in 1998 is viewable here
6 June 2007 - *NEW* for 2007 - Roots - The Early Days of Ian Carr and The EmCee Five (a new page of memorabilia devoted to Ian Carr's earliest musical concerts can be viewed here
30 April 2007 - There are two tracks now on You Tube filmed at last month's Nucleus Revisited Jazzwise concert at Pizza Expres, London. The two tracks are 'Midnight Oil' which can be viewed here and 'Mutatis Mutandis', which can be viewed here. If that isn't enough, there's also some very rare footage taken from French TV of The Michael Garrick Sextet performing Jazz Praises at St. Paul's Cathedral October 1968, which features Ian Carr and John Marshall amongst the line-up. The link to this is here.
21 April 2007 - Ian Carr is 74 today. Many happy returns Ian!
31 March 2007 - There is a review of the Pizza Express Jazzwise to the Power of 10 Nucleus Revisited Ian Carr Tribute concert here
20 March 2007 - There is a review of the Sage Gateshead EmCee Five / Nucleus Revisited Ian Carr Tribute concert here - Thanks to Vincent Carr for writing the review for this website.
19 March 2007 - The Gateshead Sage concert on Saturday 17 March was, by all accounts a stunning success. The first set was performed by Mike Carr who recreated his group the EmCee Five and the second set was performed by Nucleus Revisited. In between sets Alyn Shipton and Mike Dibb presented some rare footage of Ian Carr in various contexts including the Rendell Carr Quintet. Nucleus Revisited will play again on Friday 30 March at Pizza Express Jazz Club in Dean Street, London
4 March 2007 - A rare photo of Ian Carr taken around 1954 has been obtained for this website. Click here to view
8 February 2007 - A Nucleus Revisited tribute gig to Ian Carr takes place on 30 March 2007 at Pizza Express Jazz Club (Dean Street, London) as part of the 'Jazzwise to the Power of Ten' week long festival celebrating the 10th birthday of Jazzwise magazine: Line-up is confirmed (as at 9 February) as: Chris Batchelor, trumpet; Tim Whitehead, saxes; Mark Wood, guitar; Geoff Castle, keys; Rob Statham, bass and Marc Parnell drums
5 February 2007 - 'Elastic Rock' is voted number 5 in the Mojo readers' top 10 Jazz Rock Fusion albums, just behind John McLaughlin's 'Inner Mounting Flame' and Tony Williams' 'Emergency!'. Mojo describes Ian Carr as "one of Britain's most inspired jazz men." (Mojo - Issue 160, March 2007, pages 138-139).
29 January 2007 - Gateshead's Sage Theatre website announces "There is a very special tribute event at The Sage, Gateshead in Newcastle on Saturday 17th March 2007...a tribute to the music of one of the most pivotal figures in British jazz, and one of the best-known jazz musicians to come out of Newcastle, Ian Carr, hosted by broadcaster/journalist Alan Shipton and featuring a special recreation of Northeast band the EmCee Five and a newly reformed version of Carr's seminal fusion band Nucleus. The Music of Ian Carr, hosted by Alyn Shipton with EmCee Five Recreated and Nucleus Revisited - Saturday 17 March 4:00 pm - (ends 6.30pm) Venue: Hall Two, The Sage Gateshead. EmCee Five Recreated - Lewis Watson, Adrian Tilbrook, Adam Dennis, Noel Dennis, Andy Champion. Nucleus Revisited - Chris Batchelor, Geoff Castle and more. Ian Carr is one of the pivotal figures in British jazz. Trumpeter, composer and writer, his career embraces the seminal Rendell/Carr Quintet in the 60s and the mighty fusion group Nucleus - as well as biographies of Keith Jarrett and Miles Davis. Alyn Shipton, whose own biography of Ian was published in 2006, hosts this tribute event. A quintet of the Northeast's finest re-creates the music of the EmCee Five, the 60's Newcastle group featuring Ian who were one of the first regional bands to make a national impression in the 60's; and a sextet of Nucleus old boys demonstrates just how fresh Ian's inspirational take on electric jazz sounds even today, thirty years on." In collaboration with Schmazz and Jazz Action. The Sage Gateshead's Ticket Office is open Monday - Saturday 10am-8pm and Sunday 10am - 6pm. For more information or to book online click here or telephone The Sage ticket office on 0191 443 4661 - Ticket prices £13 (£7 standing).
Top British reissues of 2006
Harry Beckett - Warm Smiles/Themes for Fega (Vocalion) New Jazz Orchestra - Western Reunion (Vocalion) Michael Garrick - Home Stretch Blues (Vocalion) John Surman - Home Many Clouds Can You See? (Vocalion) SOS (Skidmore, Osborne, Surman) (Ogun) Amancio D'Silva - Konkan Dance (Vocalion) Michael Garrick - Cold Mountain (Vocalion) Michael Garrick - Poetry & Jazz in Concert Louis Moholo - Spirits Rejoice! (Ogun) Terry Smith - Fall Out (Sunbeam) John Surman, Alan Skidmore, Tony Oxley - Jazz in Britain (Vocalion) Stan Tracey - Return of Captain Adventure (TentoTen) Mike Westbrook - Citadel/Room 315 (BGO) Ray Warleigh - Ray Warleigh's First Album (Sunbeam) |
8 December 2006 - Nucleus founder member Karl Jenkins has been invited to be a “castaway” on the BBC radio programme, “Desert Island Discs”, which is to be broadcast on Radio 4 on December 10th at 11.15 a.m. and repeated on Dec 15th at 9.00 a.m. Don't miss either of these broadcasts because the "listen again" feature is unavailable for this show! 3 December 2006 - A three star review by Duncan Heining of 'UK Tour '76' appears in this month's Jazzwise (December/January issue 104, page 66).
28 November 2006 - A glowing three star review of 'UK Tour '76' appears in this month's Record Collector (Issue 331, Christmas 2006, page 105) plus a name check for Nucleus on page 87 of that issue, shown in a 1971 flyer of jazz gigs in London. 15 November 2006 - There is a review of the Ian Carr Tribute Concert at the Guildhall School of Music held yesterday as part of the London Jazz Festival now on this website which can be viewed here 8 November 2006 - LATEST NEWS! - Guildhall Jazz Band: Ian Carr Tribute: Tuesday, 14 November 20:00 - Location: Music Hall; featuring
Nick Smart trumpet, Christian Brewer alto saxophone, Tom Challenger tenor saxophone, Jeremy Price trombone, Cleveland Watkiss voice, Chris Allard guitar, Julian Joseph piano and Mark Hodgson bass. Directed by Scott Stroman.
Part of the London Jazz Festival: Tickets: £15 (£5 concessions) from the Barbican Box Office 020 7638 8891 from 14 October. 15 October 2006 - Guildhall Jazz Band: Ian Carr Tribute: Tuesday, 14 November 20:00 Location: Music Hall: With friends and alumni including Julian Joseph, Cleveland Watkiss and Christian Brewer, directed by Scott Stroman. This concert brings together Guildhall School alumni, friends, and protégés, including Julian Joseph (piano), Cleveland Watkiss (vocals), Christian Brewer (alto sax), and the Guildhall Jazz Band to honour and recreate his music. Tickets on sale now priced £15 from the Barbican Box Office. 27 September 2006 - There is a review of the Ian Carr benefit concert now on this website which can be viewed here 15 September 2006 - It is confirmed that there is to be an IAN CARR BENEFIT GIG at the 100 Club, 100 Oxford Street, London on 26 Sep 2006 - 7.30pm - 11pm. FIRST SET - Norma Winstone with Henry Lowther, Art Themen, Mike Garrick, Dave Green & Trevor Tomkins - SECOND SET - Jacqui Dankworth with John Etheridge, Alec Dankworth et al - FINAL SET - Members of Michael Garrick Quartet and Big Band. Members £10 adv & door / £8 conc. Non-members £10 adv & door / £8 conc. STOP PRESS: Final set now to include both Kenny Wheeler and Stan Sulzmann!!!
7 September 2006 - NEWS JUST IN - From the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Website: "Guildhall Jazz Band: Ian Carr Tribute - Tuesday, 14 November 20:00 - Location: Music Hall - Trumpeter Ian Carr is one of the great driving forces in British jazz. His contribution stretches from ground-breaking performances in the Rendell-Carr Quintet and Nucleus to outstanding journalism and direct inspiration and leadership of several generations of world-class young musicians. This concert brings together Guildhall School alumni and friends to honour him and recreate his music. Part of the London Jazz Festival. Tickets: £15 (£5 concessions) from the Barbican Box Office 020 7638 8891 from 14 October". More news when we have it! 19 August 2006 - A New Nucleus album is being released on Monday 16th October.
"UK Tour '76" is a double album of a set recorded for a radio broadcast at Loughborough University in February 1976.
The album is released on the MLP label (MLP13CD). For full details of personnel and tracklist click
here 1 August 2006 - Nucleus' "Elastic Rock" is 'mentioned in dispatches' in Jazzwise's Special 100th issue 'The 100 Jazz albums that shook the world' feature. Nucleus' "Hemispheres" is also mentioned in the Jazzwise charts (August 2006)
14 July 2006 - Ian Carr was recognised last night for his contribution to the jazz industry with the Services to Jazz
In The UK Award presented at the annual BBC Jazz Awards held at London's Mermaid Theatre. Introducing his award, fellow United Jazz
and Rock Ensemble friend and colleague Barbara Thompson made a moving speech outlining the comprehensiveness and depth of Ian Carr's
contribution to jazz and Ian, aided by his long-time friend Jon Hiseman, received a standing ovation from an enthusiastically appreciative audience.
Aside from the many stars of jazz, some very well-known, others less so, it was great to see Nucleus saxophonist Phil Todd on stage with the BBC
Jazz Awards band led by Guy Barker. Phil played some excellent baritone solos during the grand finale conducted by none other than BBC Jazz
Awards Lifetime Achievement winner, the legendary Quincy Jones.
Link to the BBC Jazz Awards 2006 web pages here
Plus...
There is a benefit concert for Lol Coxhill at The Red Rose Club, 129 Seven Sisters Road, London, N7 7QG (tel: 020 7281 3051) on Sunday 24 September, featuring (from 3.30pm):Sylvia Hallett/ Clive Bell. Mike Walter / Jim LeBaigue / Morris English."Albert Newton": Charles Hayward / Harry Beckett / Pat Thomas / John Edwards. (from 5.50pm): Stewart Lee. Evan Parker / John Russel / John Edwards. Dave Green / Henry Lowther. Phil Minton / Terry Day. (from 8.30pm): Steve Beresford/ Mark Sanders. Veryan Weston / Tom Chant. "Basic Electric Dreaming": Dave Tucker / Alison Blunt / Malcom Bruce / Steve Noble - doors open at 3pm - £8 / £6
An unsolicited testimonial from flautist Phil Bent reads (on his website): "I owe a great deal to one man, the trumpeter, composer and author Ian Carr, who changed my life. At the age of nineteen I attended the Ian Carr class at WAC in Chalk Farm. He opened a door for me and I could hear and see the whole world of music in a great and more focused way from his teaching. It was Ian Carr who introduced me to Miles Davis." Phil's website can be viewed here
28 June 2006 - A review of the new Hux Records CD by Nucleus, 'Hemispheres' can be viewed here
22 June 2006 - 'Out of the Long Dark', the biography of Ian Carr by Alyn Shipton, was launched last night at London's Vortex Jazz Club (see photos above). A veritable galaxy of stars turned out for the occasion including Don Rendell, Michael Garrick, Tony Coe, Jeff Clyne, Geoff Castle, Dill Katz, John L Walters and Warren Greveson (from Zyklus), Cleveland Watkiss, Geoff Eales and many others.
3 June 2006 - NUCLEUS Hemispheres (HUXO78) is available to PRE-ORDER Now from Hux Records - Tracks are: 1. Cosa Nostra (4.28) 2. Elastic Rock (5.06) 3. Stonescape (1.37) 4. Single Line (1.04) 5. Twisted Track (5.30) 6. 1916 (6.02) 7. Persephone's Jive (1.15) Live in Europe, March 1970 8. Song For The Bearded Lady (7.12) 9. Tangent (7.46) 10. We'll Talk About It Later (5.12) 11. Snakehips Dream (9.10) 12. Hemisphere (6.13) - Live in Europe, February 1971 and the line-up is: Ian Carr - trumpet, Jeff Clyne - bass, Karl Jenkins - piano/sax/oboe, John Marshall - drums, Brian Smith - sax/flute, Chris Spedding - guitar. Release date 17.07.06
26 May 2006 - Ian Carr was presented with the Services to Jazz Award by Sir John Dankworth, at the prestigious Parliamentary Jazz Awards held on 11 May in the Terrace Pavillion at the House of Commons and which was organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group. The APPJAG has over 103 members from the House of Commons and House of Lords across all political parties. Their aim is to encourage wider and deeper enjoyment of jazz among Parliamentarians, to increase Parliamentarians' understanding of the jazz music industry and their interest in issues affecting jazz and to promote jazz as a musical form and raise its profile inside and outside Parliament. The Group’s officers are Co-Chairs Michael Connarty MP and Lord Colwyn, and Secretary Bob Blizzard MP
24 May 2006 - A major new article on Ian Carr, by his biographer Alyn Shipton and illustrated with photographs, appears in the latest Jazzwise magazine (June 2006, issue 98). The article also reveals that Ian Carr is to be given the 'Services to Jazz' award at the forthcoming BBC Jazz Awards. There is also a glowing review of Alyn Shipton's biography of Ian Carr 'Out of the Long Dark' (published in June) in this issue of Jazzwise. This website sends its warm congratulations to Ian.
20 May 2006 - Ian Carr introduces a Jazz File series of six programmes on Miles Davis in the Miles Davis at 80 festival of programmes on BBC Radio 3 at 18.00 hours GMT. This is a repeat of the series originally broadcast in 2001
10 May 2006 - A three page feature on Ian Carr by Alyn Shipton will be appearing in the June issue of Jazzwise magazine. This will contain photographs and details of some of his major recordings. Jazzwise hits the newsstands towards the end of the May.
5 May 2006 - Hux Records are due to release a second CD of early Nucleus later this year. The CD will comprise recordings made at European concerts around 1970/71. More details will be announced when they are available.
21 April 2006 - Ian Carr celebrates his 73rd birthday today - Happy Birthday Ian!
10 April 2006 - Some excellent photos of a 1987 Nucleus gig at the Triangle Arts Centre, Birmingham, UK, have been discovered on this professional photographer's website here and the link to them is provided with his permission.
4 April 2006 - Just re-released from 1975, Mike Westbrook's 'Citadel/Room 315' - BGOCD713 on BGO Records - Digitally remastered, slip-cased and with new notes and archive photos from the original sessions and featuring the great John Surman.
16 March 2006 - April's edition of Record Collector (Issue 322, page 95; 'Value Added Fax') has a curious question about Ian Carr's Nucleus' 1973 album 'Labyrinth' concerning whether there was ever a UK issue of the album featuring the Vertigo 'swirl' logo or was it only issued in the UK with the 'Spaceship' logo.
3 March 2006 - A special limited edition CD of 'Elastic Rock' with cardboard gatefold sleeve and new sleevenotes written by ex-Melody Maker journalist Chris Welch has just been reissued by Repertoire (REPUK1076)
15 February 2006 - Alyn Shipton's long-awaited biography of Ian Carr 'Out of the Long Dark', will now be published by Equinox. The publication date is set for June this year but the publisher has already posted information about the book which is viewable here
8 February 2006 - Elton Dean (ex Soft Machine, Keith Tippett, etc) died on the evening of 7 February in London aged just 60. RIP Elton
1 February 2006 - Stan Tracey's 'Return of Captain Adventure' (TTTCDS 753) is now reissued as a double CD on Tentoten Records with several extra tracks and is very highly recommended. It's available direct from Tentoten. Also just reissued is Terry Smith's 'Fall Out' (Sunbeam Records SBRCD5008) which features Kenny Wheeler and Gordon Beck amongst others.
9 January 2006 - Mojo (February 2006) has classic Nucleus track 'Song for the Bearded Lady' in the number 5 position of its 'Mojo Playlist', one of the titles featured in the Vertigo label retrospective compilation set 'The Time Machine' (2005).
1 January 2006 - A review of the new book/CD - a paean to Ian Carr and his colleagues - "Elastic Jazz - Sketches of Britain" is here
Top British reissues of 2005
Ardley, Carr, Gibbs & Tracey - Will Power (Vocalion) Neil Ardley - Kaleidoscope of Rainbows (Dusk Fire) Acker Bilk - Blue Acker (NOT Trad Jazz!)(Lake) John Cameron - Off Centre (Vocalion) Chitinous Ensemble - Chitinous (Vocalion) Michael Garrick - October Woman (Vocalion) Michael Garrick - Jazz Praises (Jazz Academy) Michael Garrick - Black Marigolds (Vocalion) Michael Garrick - The Heart is a Lotus (Vocalion) Mike Gibbs - Just Ahead (BGO) Keef Hartley Band - Overdog - (Eclectic) Keef Hartley Band - The Time is Near (Eclectic) Tubby Hayes - Mexican Green (Universal) Tubby Hayes - 100% Proof (Universal) Tubby Hayes - Tubbs Tours (Universal) Tubby Hayes - Tubbs (Universal) Tubby Hayes - Equation in Rhythm (Universal) Henry Lowther - Child Song (Vocalion) Don Rendell - Playtime (Vocalion) Alan Skidmore - Once Upon a Time (Vocalion) Mike Westbrook - Love Songs (Vocalion) |
31 December 2005 - John Dankworth received a Knighthood in the New Year honours list. This is the first time a jazz musician has been honoured thus. Congratulations go to Sir John!
29 December 2005 - Derek Bailey, the great British guitar improviser and innovator, died on 25 December, aged 75. He was featured in Ian Carr's books 'Music Outside' and 'The Rough Guide to Jazz', where Carr wrote of him: "...his music is often alive with drama, intelligence and anarchic humour". There is an obituary by John Fordham and Richard Williams in today's Guardian which can be viewed here
21 December 2005 - A reader from Italy has kindly sent in a fabulous photo of Ian Carr appearing on the cover of the Italian magazine 'Pop Records' from an April 1975 issue - hard to believe that in many countries Nucleus were much vaunted (and may be still are) as 'pop stars'! Check it out here
10 December 2005 - Ian Carr has attended a couple of special birthday celebrations recently; one for Dave Brubeck (85) and the other for ex-Nucleus reedsman Tim Whitehead (55). We wish them both a happy birthday too!
14 November 2005 - 3hedz Promotions are making a documentary about the life of British jazz legend Ian Carr, various incarnations of Nucleus and the context of fusion music. They are asking for any material in any medium including archive footage in any format, photos, posters, text, letters, postcards, reviews, etc. The aim is to make a documentary on digital video at around 70-90 minutes. It is important that contributors know the origin of any material offered so that 3hedz can make the appropriate credits. Also, let them know of any stories, anecdotes or memories of Ian that would be worth recording and suggest others who might be important contributors to Ian's story. Contact Antonio at 3hedz here
6 November 2005 - Jazz Uk Issue 66 (November/December 2005) contains a great review by John Fordham of the Nucleus gig at Cargo, London on August 31.
29 October 2005 - 'Will Power' - A Shakespeare Birthday Celebration in Music by Neil Ardley, Ian Carr, Mike Gibbs and Stan Tracey is now re-released on CD for the first time on the Vocalion label (2CDSML 8412) and also re-issued for the first time on CD is Michael Garrick's 'October Woman'. These CDs are available now from Dutton Direct here and should be available in the shops soon.
10 October 2005 - An excellent review of the Nucleus gig at Cargo in August appears in this month's Jazzwise (October, issue 91) complete with a large photo of Chris Batchelor and Phil Todd
7 October 2005 - This month sees the reissue of two important albums released for the first time on CD. The first is Lake Records 'Blue Acker' in which Ian plays as a member of the Stan Tracey Big Brass which accompanies Acker and which includes a stellar line-up of names such as Kenny Wheeler and Stan himself. This is available now from Lake Records. The second is the long lost 'Will Power', a collaborative project between Ian Carr, Neil Ardley, Mike Gibbs and Stan Tracey, originally on the Argo label and now reissued by Vocalion. It features Ian's composition 'Heyday'. This should be released around the 25 October. Also, although Ian is not featured on it but bound to be of interest, is 'October Woman' by Michael Garrick which features Shake Keane and Joe Harriott, which is being reissued by Vocalion at the same time as 'Will Power'
28 September 2005 - Michael Garrick's 'Jazz Praises at St Paul's' featuring Ian Carr and John Marshall has just been reissued on the Jazz Academy label (JAZA 11)
8 September 2005 - More stunning photos taken by Ian Willis-Bentley of the Nucleus Cargo gig are now available to view here
6 September 2005 - Two more excellent reviews of the Nucleus gig, the first is by leading jazz journalist and author John Fordham in The Guardian and the second appears in Universal Music's iJazz News
5 September 2005 - Some photos of the Nucleus Cargo gig are now available to view here
2 September 2005 - A review of the Nucleus gig is now available here
First photo of the Nucleus Cargo gig on 31 August, showing Geoff Castle, Rob Statham, Nic France, Phil Todd and Marc Wood with Chris Batchelor on trumpet playing Ian's parts - Image © R.Farbey, 2005 22 August 2005 - It is now officially confirmed by 3hedz, promoters of the gig, that Chris Batchelor will be the special guest trumpet player at the
Nucleus gig at Cargo on 31 August 2005. 8 August 2005 - A few CDs just released that might well be of interest to British jazz rock fans.
Keef Hartley Band has two reissues of albums from over thirty years ago: 'Overdog' and 'The Time is Near' on the
Eclectic Records label and two albums of
BBC sessions by Soft Machine have been recently released on the Hux Records
label of which the latest 'Softstage', from a 1972 BBC Radio 'In Concert' session features ex-Nucleus members Karl Jenkins and John Marshall,
the earlier one is 'Soft Machine and Heavy Friends In Concert 1971' which features Ronnie Scott playing with Soft Machine 26 July 2005 - Ian Carr's long time colleague in the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble, the great jazz trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff died yesterday (25th July) aged 76. He had been ill for some time. Today, Ian, together with several other of his musical friends (Michael Garrick, John Marshall, Jon Hiseman, Barbara Thompson and Norma Winstone) attended a memorial concert for the late, great, jazz composer Neil Ardley, held at St Paul's Church in London's Covent Garden. The event was well-attended by friends, relatives and fans alike. 11 July 2005 - Michael Garrick's Jazz Praises is to be reissued on the Jazz Academy label at the end of July. It features, amongst others, Ian Carr and John Marshall 4 July 2005 - Nucleus are to play Cargo in August! Ian Carr & Nucleus are to play one ninety minute set. The band line up is: Ian Carr - trumpet, Mark Wood - guitar, Geoff Castle - keyboards, Rob Statham - bass, Nic France - drums, Phil Todd - saxes, plus special guest tba. The DJs are : Richard E (Further Out Recordings), Nigel Prankster (3HEDZ & Milkaudio), Matz (3HEDZ & Samurai FM). DJs finish up at 1am. The 3HEDZ press release states: 3HEDZ & Further Out Recordings in conjunction with Cargo present Ian Carr and Nucleus Live at Cargo, London. One of the greats of the British Jazz Scene - Wednesday 31 August 2005: 8pm - 1am. Price £12 Cons £10 Guests £8. Band playing two one hour sets featuring special guest. Cargo 83 Rivington Street Shoreditch London EC2A 3AY Tel: 020 7613 7743 Fax: 020 7613 7740 Tube: Old Street / Liverpool Street Buses: 35 / 55
20 June 2005 - Vocalion has now reissued Mike Westbrook's 'Love Songs' which is the first time this album has been reissued on CD in the UK. It differs from other recent Vocalion reissues in that it features two bonus tracks (the single versions of 'Original Peter' and 'Magic Garden'), amended artwork at the request of Mike Westbrook and new liner notes - the original LP had no sleeve notes. Also, the album has been meticulously remastered by Mike Dutton and is now, in the opinion of this web site, a minor masterpiece. It also features Nucleus' Chris Spedding on electric guitar. Very highly recommended 1 June 2005 - Vocalion has now reissued for the first time on CD several 'lost' Argo and Deram albums
including Michael Garrick's 'The Heart is a Lotus' and 'Black Marigolds' (both of which feature an augmented line-up of
the Rendell Carr Quintet), plus Chitinous Ensemble's album 'Chitinous' featuring Ian Carr. The albums are all excellently re-mastered
by Mike Dutton and accompanied by original and new sleevenotes. Also now released for the first time on CD is the excellent Don Rendell album from 1958, 'Playtime' 23 May 2005 - The DVD of the documentary on Keith Jarrett shown on Channel Four last year and for which Ian Carr was consultant, has now been released and a review of it can be viewed here Cover of Jazz UK Issue 58 (Jul/Aug 2004) featuring the Rendell Carr Quintet 16 May 2005 - News of new and upcoming CD releases: John Surman’s recorded jam session now entitled ‘Way Back When’ (Cuneiform Rune 200) is an important documentation of the jazz rock scene of 1969 and has been issued officially for the first time with all but one track in stereo. Notably it features Nucleus drummer John Marshall and was recorded prior to both Nucleus and the incarnation of Soft Machine that John would later be a fundamental part of. There is an eerily similar feel to Soft Machine (from Soft Machine 5 – Soft Machine 6). The CD also features John Taylor, Brian Odgers and Mike Osborne and is was released earlier thsi month. Ian Carr’s friend Mike Gibbs will at last have his first CD reissue of ‘Just Ahead’ the great live album from 1972 which again features John Marshall plus many others including ex-Nucleus members Chris Spedding, Dave Macrae and Roy Babbington. It is due for release at the end of June on BGO (BGOCD679).
5 May 2005 - NEW FOR 2005! - The Ian Carr Discography is
here
20 April 2005 - Big reissue news about some major British albums
'lost' for many years. Mike Dutton's Vocalion label is releasing for the first time on CD Michael Garrick's 'The Heart is a Lotus' and
'Black Marigolds' (both of which feature an augmented line-up of the Rendell Carr Quintet),
plus other great albums from this era including Henry Lowther's 'Child Song', John Cameron's 'Off Centre' and Alan Skidmore's
'Once Upon a Time'. Also scheduled for reissue around this time (May 22) is Don Rendell's
classic album 'Playtime' which also features Ronnie Ross. This is a major event for British modern jazz fans,
some of whom have been waiting for over 35 years for these reissues! 16 April 2005 - It is gratifying to note that
Colin Barnes has had a lengthy letter published in April's Jazz Review
castigating that journal for its highly criticial review of the Rendell Carr
Quintet reissues. 16 April 2005 - Vertigo Mixed...by Andy Votel - This new compilation CD, which includes snippets of tracks by Ian Carr and Nucleus, has just been reviewed for this web site and can be viewed here
12 April 2005 - Michael Garrick Trio plays at Hinde Street Church (close to Marylebone High Street and Bond Street Station, London W1) on Monday 6 June, 7.30pm. Admission £7. Profits from the concert will be donated to the West London Day Centre (part of the West London Mission's work for homeless people) 4 April 2005 - An major exhibition of art by Miles Davis is at The Gallery, 28 Cork Street, London W1, from April 4-9 (Telephone 020-7437 2812), some of which was produced in collaboaration with Jo Gelbard 22 March 2005 - An important four page article on British jazz legend
Mike Taylor is featured in the April 2005 issue of Record Collector (Issue 309). Written by
Steve Ingless it includes rare photos of this much unsung genius. Ian Carr played trumpet on
several compositions by Mike Taylor, with Neil Ardley's New Jazz Orchestra and on the rare
'Mike Taylor Remembered' session. 22 March 2005 - Universal are releasing a 3-CD compilation of the Vertigo
label entitled 'Time Machine - A Vertigo Retrospective' on 11 April. It features 41 tracks by Nucleus,
Colosseum, Gentle Giant, Manfred Mann's Chapter Three to name but a few. The two tracks by Nucleus featured in this collection are 'Torrid Zone' and 'Song for the Bearded Lady' 15 March 2005 - It seems likely that the next batch of 'Impressed Re-Pressed' albums will be released around late Spring of this year. One album almost certain to be included will be 'Hum Dono' by the electric guitarist, the late Amancio d'Silva, with whom, Ian Carr recorded. There is now an
Amancio d'Silva web site.
1 March 2005 -
Kaleidoscope Of Rainbows (1976) completed a trilogy of albums and was composed between 1973 and 1975 as a seven-part work for jazz orchestra and performed by an augmented version of Ian Carr's band Nucleus. This seminal album by the late Neil Ardley, has just been reissued on the Dusk Fire label and should be widely available. 10 February 2005 - Conversations in British Jazz - This excellent new book, which includes interviews with Ian Carr, Don Rendell and Michael Garrick, has just been reviewed for this web site and can be viewed here
9 February 2005 - A superb 'letter of the month' appears in February's Jazzwise magazine in which a letter entitled 'Beautiful trumpet playing' praises the Rendell-Carr Quintet and Nucleus reissues on BGO and specifically praises Ian Carr very highly. Sentiments this web site totally endorses. 6 February 2005 - A new album by Don Rendell
of previously unissued BBC recordings from 1980 and 1982 has just been released on Spotlite Records. Featuring such notable musicians as Trevor Tomkins, Alan Wakeman and Peter Saberton, this is an excellent package of original music
from one of the UK's greatest jazz artists. 'Touch Links of Gold' (Spotlite SPJ574-CD) by the Don Rendell Four/Five is available from all good record shops or direct from Spotlite Jazz on (0)1279 834175 - Highly recommended. 3 February 2005 - Blind Jukebox with Ian Carr - This interview from 1995 with Tom Callaghan, has just been passed to the UICNWS by its author. A fascinating interview wherein Tom Callaghan plays Ian several recordings and asks him to guess who they are by and for his opinion of them 25 January 2005 - Love You Madly - A musical salute to Duke Ellington, featuring performances from Stan Tracey Big Brass, Joe Harriott, Don Rendell, Ian Carr, Tony Coe, Acker Bilk, Cleo Laine, John Dankworth Band, Directions in Jazz Unit, Kenny Grahame and Afro-Percussion. Part of BBC FOUR's Jazz Britannia season. Fri 28 Jan, 23:00-23:40, 40mins, Stereo, Widescreen
13 January 2005 - The three part BBC 4 television programme 'Jazz Britannia' - scheduled for 28 January, is now detailed on the BBC web site here where Ian Carr is name checked in a "Test your British Jazz Knowledge" quiz!
12 January 2005 - Ian Carr's seminal book on contemporary jazz in Britain, 'Music Outside', now out of print for around 30 years, reached an even higher secondhand price on Amazon's web site of a staggering £216.94 - it cost £3 new in 1973 (previous copies had been advertised for a mere £180 odd pounds)! 1 January 2005 - Karl Jenkins, Nucleus co-founder member, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year's honours list, for services to music. In the same list, Dave Gelly, writer, musician and former New Jazz Orchestra member was awarded an MBE for services to jazz 20 December 2004 - Dick Heckstall-Smith, a former band member of the New Jazz Orchestra alongside Ian Carr, and stalwart of jazz-rockers Colosseum and the Graham Bond Organization died on 17 December 2004. He was 70 and had been ill for some time. 19 December 2004 - A glowing review by Chris May of the BGO reissue of the RCQ's final album 'Change-Is' can be viewed on the All About Jazz web site here and a similarly enthusiastic review (by the same author) of 'Greek Variations' can be viewed here 13 December 2004 - Two years in the making, the Mike Dibb documentary on the life of Keith Jarrett in which Ian Carr collaborated (as with Dibb's previous documentary on the life of Miles Davis), 'Keith Jarrett And The Art Of Improvisation' will be shown on Channel 4 on Monday 20th December at 7.30pm 4 December 2004 - This just in from the Barbican Centre, London: JAZZ BRITANNIA - Sat 12 Feb 2005 - Gilles Peterson -Two days of fast and furious live events – also filmed for BBC4 – will reflect and respond to the series. Expect many of the great figures in British jazz to perform across a weekend that delves into the great music of past and present years and takes a leap into the future.
On Saturday, Gilles Peterson hosts a live realisation of Impressed, his hugely successful CD compilation of key tracks in celebration of a progressive and massively influential 60s school of British jazz soloists and composers who rewrote the jazz rule book. No longer content with simply copying American role models, this
is a generation that took jazz into new territory and created a distinctively English sound. Impressed/remixed includes a specially assembled big band and small group performances that not only evoke past glories, but also mark the continuing originality of the key players. The line up features the technical sorcery of
Matthew Herbert and visuals team Yeast, key figures such as Harry Beckett, Michael Garrick, Stan Tracey, Bobby Wellins, Norma Winstone and compositions from many of the above plus Neil Ardley and the legendary Mike Taylor + freestage performances, talks and films.
Jazz Britannia 1 December 2004 - The BGP CD reissue of Don Rendell's seminal album Roarin' from 1961 (with Graham Bond on alto) went on sale on Monday. The BGO Rendell-Carr Quintet CDs feature promimently in the reissues of the year section of this month's edition of Jazzwise (Dec/Jan, Issue82) as does Michael Garrick's 'Troppo' reissue. 17 November 2004 - At long last, a CD reissue for Don Rendell's classic album from 1961, Roarin', which features Graham Bond on alto and is very highly recommended - it is almost certainly Don's best pre-Rendell-Carr Quintet album and one of the truly great albums of that decade - out on 29 November on Beat Goes Public CDBGPM166 2 November 2004 - The Nucleus gig at Cargo on 8 December will not be going ahead - it is hoped this will be re-scheduled! 20 October 2004 - A major article on Ian Carr and Nucleus ('Ian Carr and Nucleus: '70s British Jazz Rock Progenitors') by John Kelman was published yesterday on the All About Jazz web site
and the article can be found here
19 October 2004 - November's Mojo (number 132) has a two page article on modern British jazz which includes a brief review of the Rendell Carr Quintet album 'Change-Is'. 11 October 2004 - Click here for a link to a Beat Instrumental article on Ian Carr from November 1972 which has just been added to the 'Images' section of the web site. 5 October 2004 - Images of the major feature on Ian Carr by Claudio Bonomi from the Italian newspaper, Il Manifesto, (18 September 2004) can be viewed in the 'Images' section here 28 September 2004 - The recently reissued album 'Greek Variations',
by Neil Ardley, Ian Carr and Don Rendell receives a glowing four star review in October's
issue of Jazzwise magazine (issue 80). It's widely available on Universal's Impressed Re-Pressed label, as is Amancio D'Silva's 'Integration' featuring Ian Carr which is also favourably reviewed in this issue of Jazzwise, plus there's a feature on John Marshall's 'Turning Point' album (which was 'Mingus Ah Um'). 16 September 2004 - Nearly a page
of information is devoted to Ian Carr in the new, 2nd edition of John
Chilton's excellent "Who's Who of British Jazz" (Continuum, 2004: ISBN 0-8264-7234-6). 7 September 2004 -
There is an new report on the old Melody Maker Jazz Polls (British Section) with a focus on the late, great Tubby Hayes, however, some of the years in this version are quoted in FULL, which may be of use to some scholars of British modern jazz, including followers of Ian Carr and Nucleus. Check it out here 25 August 2004 - It is hoped that Nucleus will be
playing at Cargo in London on 8th December 2004 - Cargo, Kingsland Viaduct, 83
Rivington Street, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3AY - Tel: 020 7739 3440 (Old Street
and Liverpool Street Tube / Train stations are 5 - 10 minutes walk from the
venue). The Cargo Web Site is here 16 August 2004 - Almost a whole page is devoted to
reviews of seven Nucleus albums in this month's Jazz Review (August 2004, Issue 59). The British jazz web site Jazzscript is now selling Japanese
imported British jazz albums including Michael Garrick's long lost masterpiece
'Promises' featuring, amongst others, Ian Carr. Gilles Peterson's 'Impressed 2'
is now available everywhere and includes some excellent tracks from ultra rare
(ie, not yet re-issued on CD) albums including the title track from the late
Neil Ardley's New Jazz Orchestra album 'Dejeuner Sur L'Herbe - which includes
solos by Ian Carr and Dick Heckstall-Smith. 15 July 2004 - The guitarist Amancio D'Silva's album
from 1969 'Integration' has been re-issued this week on Universal's 'Impressed
Re-Pressed' label (Catalogue No. 9866893). A stunningly good record, it features
Ian Carr who co-wrote some of the tracks and wrote the sleevenotes. It also
features Don Rendell, Trevor Tomkins and Dave Green. 13 July 2004 - There is a major feature on the Rendell
Carr Quintet by Duncan Heining in the July / August 2004 issue of Jazz UK (Issue
58) and this is also available online here from the Jazz Services
web site. 29 June 2004 - Jazzwise (July) has excellent reviews of
both 'Alleycat'/'Direct Hits' and the Rendell Carr Quintet classic
'Change-Is'. 21 June 2004 - The first four albums in Universal's long
awaited 'Impressed Re-Pressed' series have been released today. 'Greek
Variations' a joint work with contributions by Neil Ardley, Ian
Carr and Don Rendell is joined by Mike Westbrook's 'Celebration',
Michael Garrick's 'Troppo' and Mike Taylor's 'Trio'. 'Greek Variations' has a
prototype Nucleus playing three Ian Carr pieces and is highly recommended. Also,
released today is Gilles Peterson's 'Impressed 2' which features tracks by,
amongst others, Stan Tracey, Michael Garrick, Tubby Hayes, Mike Westbrook and
Harold McNair. Amancio D'Silva's 'Integration' (featuring Ian Carr) album
scheduled for release today has been put back for two weeks. 15 June 2004 - Record Collector (July) contains a three
star review of the latest BGO Nucleus reissue of 'Alleycat'/'Direct Hits'. 4 June 2004 - Ian Carr will be guest celebrity
interviewee at the National Jazz Archive's Open Day tomorrow (Saturday 5 June).
He will be interviewed by saxophonist Martin Hathaway. They will then play some
live music, joined by a rhythm section from the Guildhall School of Music. It
should be stressed that this event is SOLD OUT! 28 May 2004 - Jazzwise (June 2004, issue 76) features a page on the music that most influenced Ian Carr, plus interviews with Michael Garrick, Don Rendell and Gilles Peterson
and also a review of the first four Rendell Carr Quintet albums reissued this year on BGO (which all receive a four star rating!). The Third Edition of the Rough Guide to Jazz (co-edited by Ian Carr)
has just been published and is now available from all good bookshops. 25 May 2004 - The forthcoming Gilles Peterson follow-up album 'Impressed 2' (UCJ 9820142) is released by Universal on 21st June. It features tracks by Stan Tracey, Michael Garrick, Neil Ardley, Amancio D'Silva and Harold McNair, amongst others. Also this year, Universal intends to start a programme of reissues of long lost British modern jazz albums
which will include the Neil Ardley, Ian Carr and Don Rendell album 'Greek Variations' with an incipient version of Nucleus in the line-up 8 May 2004 - Important news for fans of Ian Carr, Don Rendell and Nucleus! - BBC TV is producing a major three part documentary series on the history of British Jazz from 1945 to the present day. All the above (and related) artists can be expected to feature prominently. It is anticipated that it will be broadcast around the end of January/February 2005 4 May 2004 - 'Alleycat' is now re-released on BGO (BGOCD565)
paired with 'Direct Hits' (the excellent Best of Nucleus album). The Rendell-Carr Quintet
album 'Change-Is' has also now been reissued on BGO (BGOCD613) 19 April 2004 - Ian Carr's Honda Jazz has been found
by the police in Camden car pound having sustained relatively little damage after it was
stolen last Wednesday night. Ian was understandably very elated with this news. 16 April 2004 - Ian Carr's cherished car - A black Honda Jazz, was stolen near Ronnie Scott's Club on Wednesday 14th April, when Ian was attending the Charlie Watts' Tentet gig. 16 April 2004 - This month's Record Collector (May, issue 297) features a fifteen page Prog Rock Special which includes a very amusing double page full colour 'Prog Planetary System' which includes the 'planet' Nucleus along with Soft Machine, Colosseum, Caravan, Yes, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, etc, etc. There is also a very short obituary for Neil Ardley in this issue of Record Collector. 12 April 2004 - Exactly 35 years ago the Rendell Carr Quintet were voted top small group, Ian Carr was voted top trumpet player and Phase III was voted third top album of the year in the British Section of the Melody Maker Jazz Poll (Melody Maker, 1 March 1969) 10 April 2004 - There's an evening for Bill Eyden (who played drums with Tubbs amongst others). This features an all star line-up including The Tony Kinsey Big Band, Don Rendell, Trevor Tomkins, Dave Green, Gilad Atzmon, Allan Ganley, Jimmy Hastings, Don Weller, Bruce Adams, Alan Barnes, Peter King, John Horler, Don Lusher, Bobby Orr, Derek Wadsworth, Ray Warleigh.....it's at the 100 Club, 100 Oxford Street, London,W1 on Wednesday 14th April - 7.30-11.45 (doors open 7.00) Admission £10 8 April 2004 - The Rendell Carr Quintet albums just re-released on BGO Records are now selling phenomenally well in Japan (in multiples of thousands!) and are reported to be selling well in the UK too. The
'Phase III' and 'Live' double CD set is now on sale as well as
'Shades of Blue' and 'Dusk Fire' These albums are available on
BGO Records and are being sold as two for one double CD packages. They can
be ordered from all the usual suppliers and also direct from BGO Records
. 15 March 2004 - The Rendell Carr Quintet albums 'Shades of Blue' and 'Dusk Fire'
have now beeen released on BGO Records (Catalogue number BGOCD615)
and are being sold as a two for one double CD package and can be ordered now from all the usual suppliers and also direct from BGO Records. 'Phase III' and 'Live' should be released next month 8 March 2004 - 'Alleycat' is at last scheduled for a May reissue on BGO Records. This will now be paired
with 'Direct Hits' (the excellent Best of Nucleus album). The first two reissues of the Rendell-Carr Quintet albums should be released on 15 March 8 March 2004 - Ian Carr's album 'Sounds and Sweet Airs' (recorded in Southwark Cathedral with John Taylor on organ) is still available to purchase
from: Discord Distribution in the UK or from Celestial Harmonies in the USA. 27 February 2004 -
Neil Ardley, the great British jazz composer of such works as 'Kaleidoscope of Rainbows', (which featured Ian Carr and Nucleus), 'Greek Variations', 'A Symphony of Amaranths' and 'The Harmony of the Spheres', died on Monday 23 February, aged 66. He founded the New Jazz Orchestra in the 1960s which included in its personnel, Ian Carr, Barbara Thompson and Jon Hiseman, and the NJO's album 'Le Dejeuner Sur L'Herbe' (1968) is a work of collective genius. His compositions were eloquent and beautiful and totally unique and featured musicians from a diverse range of backgrounds which included John Martyn, Ivor Cutler, Stan Tracey and Norma Winstone to name but a few. He will be greatly missed. Obituaries from the British national press appeared
in The Independent ,
The Guardian and
The Daily Telegraph. An obituary also appeared in The Times, 1 April 2004.
27 February 2004 - A unique video of the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble: In Concert (Filmed live at the Stuttgart Jazz Festival 1986)
is still available to purchase from Synergie Logistics, 5 Pilot Trading Estate, West Wycombe Road, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP12 3AB, UK - telephone 01494 450606
or from Germany from Norbert Ruecker.
Its an excellent video, allegedly 58 minutes, but seems shorter than that, and features a large ensemble of the UJRE which includes Ian Carr, Barbara Thompson, Jon Hiseman, Kenny Wheeler, Charlie Mariano, Eberhard Weber, Wolfgang Dauner, Albert Mangelsdorff, Christopher Lauer, Dave King and the late, great Volker Kriegel and others! The video catalogue number is MMGV 074. 20 February 2004 - Former Nucleus guitarist Ray Russell has just had his funky jazz-rock album 'Ready or Not' re-released on CD for the first time on the Angel Air label (SJPCD155). It also features sometime Ian Carr and Nucleus musicians, Mo Foster, Tim Whitehead and Tony Roberts, amongst others.
19 February 2004 - Ian Carr and Nucleus get a name check in this month's Mojo magazine; in the Memorabilia and Rarities section, this month
focusing on British jazz vinyl, Neil Ardley's 'Kaleidoscope of Rainbows' is featured. Ian Carr and Nucleus provided the main core of musicians for this highly acclaimed Ardley work. 21 January 2004 - At last - biggest news of the year, so far - BGO finally is commencing its re-issuing programme of the Rendell Carr Quintet albums originally released on EMI's Columbia label some 40
years ago. These long-lost albums have never before been re-issued in any format. The first re-issue is a double CD pairing of 'Shades of Blue' and 'Dusk Fire' - these should be available for purchase in about two weeks but orders can be placed now on BGO's web site. The three other Rendell Carr Quintet albums will be released over the next few months. Well done BGO! For full details click here
14 January 2004 - This month's Jazz Review (January 2004, Issue 52) has a
review of the Rendell/Carr Quintet album 'Live in London' (Harkit HRKCD8045)
which is described as 'top playing from a first-class band'. Reviewer Rick Finlay
eulogises thus: 'Carr is equally impressive here, bringing a plethora of crisp,
imaginative lines to these bustling charts'. The CD also is included in the five
CDs selected in the section headed 'The Editor's Choice'. 1 January 2004 - Nucleus will be reforming in 2004! The line-up, it is hoped, will include Ian Carr plus John Marshall on drums, Geoff Castle on keyboards, Phil Todd on saxes, Mark Wood on guitar and Davide Mantovani on bass. It is hoped that the band will play several gigs this year but the itinerary has yet to be decided.
The only currently available tracks by the legendary Rendell/Carr Quintet from their EMI Lansdowne series of five recordings currently available on CD are to be found on two Gilles Peterson CDs - 'Worldwide' a 2-CD set on Mercury Records, Catalogue number: 560 100-2 which was released in 2000 contains a
track entitled 'Blue Mosque' (by Colin Purbrook) from (I think, although it doesn't state this) the first Rendell/Carr Quintet album 'Shades of Blue' (1965). The newly released Gilles Peterson CD 'Impressed' [Universal Catalogue number 0647492, released 27 January 2003 in the UK] features no less than two Rendell-Carr Quintet tracks (quite lengthy ones too) - 'Black Marigolds' and 'Dusk Fire' both by Michael Garrick (there are also tracks by Harry Beckett, Graham Collier, Michael Garrick, Tubby Hayes, Amancio d'Silva + Joe Harriott and Ronnie Ross. There is a Rendell/Carr Quintet live CD entitled 'Live From Antibes Jazz Festival:
There is a Rendell/Carr Quintet live CD entitled 'Live From Antibes Jazz Festival: 1964-1968' on Spotlite Jazz, Catalogue number: SPJ CD-566 (as shown above) and also a CD entitled 'Reunion' by Don Rendell, which features Ian Carr and Michael Garrick (on different sessions) on Spotlite Jazz, Catalogue number SPJ CD-571 which was released in 2002
[this item was removed from the Home Page of this web site because of the re-issue of the 5 Rendell-Carr Quintet albums by BGO Records in 2004]
17 December 2003 - It has recently come to the attention of this web site that the Ian Carr's Nucleus CD 'Awakening' / 'Live at the Theaterhaus' (originally released on two separate vinyl albums by Mood Records and on CD as a truncated version on the Bell Records label (BLR 83 752) is still available to purchase. The editor of the UICNWS managed to obtain this rare CD from the German online record store MusicPeople for 19.01 EUR including p+p to the UK. A bargain at any price because this rare album is not currently obtainable in the UK. 14 December 2003 - Ian Carr has just confirmed to this web site's editor that he intends to get Nucleus back on the road in 2004 which is great news for all Nucleus fans! Nucleus will, it is hoped, tour the UK and possibly further afield. Other members of Nucleus were said to be 'very enthusiastic' at the prospect of a reunited Nucleus. Ian Carr hopes, in addition to reviving older Nucleus numbers, to introduce some new material too.
6 December 2003 - In the December/January edition of Jazzwise Magazine (Issue 71),
the Nucleus double album 'Labyrinth'/'Roots' made the top ten Jazzwise albums of the Year (reissues) at number 9. Also, in this edition of Jazzwise,
the Nucleus album 'Snakehips Etcetera' was featured as an example of album cover art that is best left forgotten (for its distinct lack of political correctness!) in the 'Art failure' section.
Checkout Jazzwise Magazine 1 December 2003 - An important new biography about the late, great Joe Harriott
was published last month. 'Fire in his Soul', by Alan Robertson is published by Northway Publications
at £11.99 and mentions Ian Carr several times including a mention of Ian's seminal book 'Music Outside'.
This excellent book can be ordered online from (amongst other sources) Jazzscript 26 November 2003 - Michael Garrick will be featured on
BBC Radio 3's 'Jazz Legends' with Julian Joseph, to be broadcast
on Friday 28 November 2003 between 4pm and 5pm (UK time) where Julian will play
a selection of Michael's works. BBC Radio 3 90-93FM - Jazz Legends Web Page
21 November 2003 - John L Walters' column 'On the Edge' in today's 'Guardian' has a great review of Nucleus' 'The Pretty Redhead' album. 19 November 2003 - Sometime Ian Carr and Nucleus musicians Mo Foster and Ray Russell have had their 1985 RMS album 'Centennial Park' (SJPCD 148) re-issued on CD courtesy of Angel Air Records - released on 3 November 2003 this album also features drummer Simon Phillips along with some assistance
from some well-known names in contemporary jazz. Ray Russell has a forthcoming album out on 16 February 2004 (again on the Angel Air label) - a reissue of his 1977 album 'Ready or Not' (SJPCD 155) which features amongst others, Mo Foster on bass plus Tony Roberts and Tim Whitehead on saxes. 27 October 2003 - The reissue of 'In Flagrante Delicto' is now available to purchase on the BGO label. For more details see the BGO web site 7 October 2003 - Ian Carr is a jazz legend - official! Ian Carr will be featured on BBC Radio 3's 'Jazz Legends' with Julian Joseph, to be broadcast
on Friday 24 October 2003 between 4pm and 5pm (UK time) where Julian will play a selection of Ian's works from the Rendell Carr Quintet, Nucleus
and the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble. BBC Radio 3, 90-93FM - Jazz Legends Web Page
2 October 2003 - An updated Rendell Carr Quintet discography is now available (see Labyrinth Links, below)
29 September 2003 - The latest issue of Jazzwise Magazine (October) contains no less than three
excellent reviews of Ian Carr recordings: BGO re-issues 'Out of the Long Dark' / 'Old Heartland'; 'Under the Sun' / 'Snakehips Etcetera' plus the
Rendell Carr Quintet 'Live in London' on Harkit Records. 25 September 2003 - BGO Records will be releasing 'In Flagrante Delicto' (Catalogue number: BGO CD599) as a single album shortly. Originally intended to be paired with 'Alleycat' this project
had to be abandoned for insurmountable contractual reasons as the two albums are owned by different record companies. Hopefully, BGO should be releasing 'Alleycat' as a single album too in due course. For more details see the BGO web site 24 September 2003 - Michael Garrick's long deleted album 'Promises' recorded in May 1965 (Argo ZDA 36) is being re-issued on 26 September by Universal in Japan as a limited edition CD.
It features Garrick on piano plus Ian Carr on trumpet and flugelhorn, Joe Harriott on alto, Tony Coe on tenor sax and clarinet, Coleridge Goode and Dave Green on bass and Colin Barnes on drums. This is a collector's item if ever there was one! Click here to check out the details 15 September 2003 - The prog-rock fan site Sea of Tranquility has posted some new and very
complimentary reviews of four CD releases (including the latest three double CDs from BGO) and these can be found here:
Under the Sun/Snakeships Etcetera ;
Live in Bremen ;
Labyrinth/Roots ;
Solar Plexus/Belladonna 10 September 2003 - Recent poring through the back issues of the Melody Maker for the year 1975 in the British Library accidently uncovered a great review of 'Snakehips Etcetera' by Chris Welch in which
he describes it thus: "pounding excitement and tight arrangements make this latest Nucleus sortie an attractive proposition for the best selling racks" [Melody Maker, 17 May, 1975, page 46] 29 August 2003 - Selected highlights of the British Section of the Melody Maker Jazz Polls from 1965-1974 are here - Ian Carr won top trumpet section for three consecutive years and his groups the Rendell Carr Quintet and Nucleus each came top of the small group section for three years running in two different decades! 27 August 2003 - Three Nucleus CD reviews have been spotted recently; two of 'Live in Bremen'
in Jazzman (France) and Downbeat (USA), both dated September 2003 and both coincidentally award the album three stars. The third review is in Jazz Journal International (UK), again dated September 2003, and covers two BGO double albums, 'Solar Plexus' / 'Belladonna' and 'Labyrinth' / 'Roots'.
8 August 2003 - Harkit Records released a CD of previously unreleased material featuring the Rendell Carr Quintet from November 1965 in their 'Live in London' series on 4 August - a review of this recording is
here 4 August 2003 - The Complete Ian Carr's Nucleus Discography now includes a 'Nucleus as guest artists' section at the end of the discography, where full details of Neil Ardley's 'Kaleidoscope of Rainbows' - which features Ian Carr and Nucleus is listed - see link to 'Labyrinth' page, below 1 August 2003 - It has come to the attention of this web site that four of the best albums by one of the founders of modern British jazz John Dankworth are available to purchase on CD either individually or as a boxed set. The albums are 'What the Dickens', 'Zodiac Variations', 'Million Dollar Collection' and 'Lifeline' and Ian Carr and Nucleus guest stars Kenny Wheeler and Tony Coe play on two or more of them. The set is only £31.99 inc P+P in the UK and they are not available in record shops. Telephone Quartermart (from UK): 01908 583151 and there are also other, newer albums available, with ones by Cleo Laine too. 28 July 2003 - A link to the new Ray Russell web site is available via the Labyrinth links section, below 22 July 2003 - Harkit Records now expects the eagerly awaited 'Rendell Carr Quintet Live in London' [which comprises around 70 minutes worth of previously unreleased music recorded by jazz journalist Les Tomkins] to be released around the end of July. Harkit said that this release date was brought forward by several months because of heavy demand. The sleevenotes are by Michael Garrick and there is an extract from the first track (Miles' 'Blues by Five') on the Harkit Records web site. 22 July 2003 - Ian Carr and Nucleus get a name check in the latest edition of Jazz UK (July/August 2003, Issue 52, page 17) in part five of the series 'A Short History of Jazz in the UK' which covers the '70s and '80s
21 July 2003 -
Some great news. Finally, Jazzprint have released the long awaited Harry Beckett re-issue from 1970, 'Flare Up' (JPVP 124CD). This is a superb album by one of the 'stars' of Ian Carr's masterpiece, 'Solar Plexus' and features, amongst others, John Surman, Alan Skidmore and Mike Osborne. Five stars plus. 24 June 2003 - An enthusiastic review of 'The Pretty Redhead' on the BBC's interactive web site can be found here 24 June 2003 - A link to the official United Jazz and Rock Ensemble web site is now available from this site (click on the 'Labyrinth' links section below) where there is a short tribute to the late Volker Kriegel. 17 June 2003 - The UICNWS is very sad to report that Ian Carr's long time colleague in the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble, Volker Kriegel, has died, aged 59. He will be very much missed by all who knew him and heard his superb guitar playing. 11 June 2003 - 'The Wire' magazine (Issue 232 June 2003) features a long and excellent critique of Soft Machine and related bands / musicians including Keith Tippett and Nucleus. The article says of the second Nucleus album, 'We'll talk about it later', that it '...consolidates the group's pole position in jazz-rock. Nucleus's approach to fusion is cooler than Soft Machine's, and their more sophisticated arrangements are directed toward ensemble unity. At this stage, that ambition doesn't inhibit their ability to rock...but it's Carr's clarion brass that directs Nucleus's forward momentum...'There is also a review in this issue of 'The Wire' of the double live album released by Cuneiform Records this year of Nucleus 'Live in Bremen'. 7 June 2003 - The long-awaited BGO re-issue of 'Under the Sun/Snakehips Etcetera'
is now available - direct from BGO Records via its web site and will soon be available in record shops too. 3 June 2003 - A new link to Connect to Soft Machine - an unofficial Soft Machine site is available via the 'Labyrinth Links' page;
Click here to go to the links page
29 May 2003 - Jazzwise June 2003 has a great review of 'The Pretty Redhead' and a comprehensive feature on Michael Garrick. 29 May 2003 - Check out the latest quote about 'Music Outside' here 23 May 2003 - A review of Solar Apple Quarktette's 'Kali Yuga' single featuring Ian Carr is here 20 May 2003 - The film soundtrack and jazz specialist label Harkit is due to be releasing from its new 'Live in London' series the Rendell Carr Quintet live at The Highwayman, Surrey. Recorded November 1965. The Quintet line-up includes Michael Garrick, Dave Green and Trevor Tomkins. This (approx) 74 minutes CD should be available around June 2003 with sleeve notes by Michael Garrick. It is fervently hoped that the long-awaited Nucleus BGO re-issue 'Under the Sun / Snakehips Etcetera' should be available to purchase by the end of May 13 May 2003 - New links for Michael Garrick recommended web sites can now be found in the 'Labyrinth' web links section of this web site (see below)
12 May 2003 - The rarest records in British jazz?
click here for more details 29 April 2003 - A feature on Ian Carr at 70 by Alyn Shipton appears in the May 2003
issue of Jazzwise magazine (Issue 64) on page 9 25 April 2003 - It has come to the attention of this web site that long-time Ian Carr and Nucleus associate, Neil Ardley has a new web site through which it is possible to purchase CDs of long deleted albums by Ardley and the New Jazz Orchestra, such as the classic 'Dejeuner Sur L'Herbe' which features Ian Carr amongst others. The Official Neil Ardley Web Site 16 April 2003 - Monday 21st April 2003 is Ian Carr's 70th birthday - Happy Birthday Ian! - The **NEW, UP-TO-DATE** and (almost) Complete Ian Carr and Nucleus Discography can be found
via the 'Labyrinth' section below or just click here 3 April 2003 - Nucleus - The Pretty Redhead Live At The BBC 1971 & 1982 - see the first online pre-release review of this here
2 April 2003 - Nucleus - The Pretty Redhead Live At The BBC 1971 & 1982 HUXO38 is released on 28th April 2003. For more details checkout Hux Records
28 March 2003 - Ian Carr will be interviewed by Jez Nelson on BBC Radio 3's 'Jazz on 3' on Friday 4th April 2003. The Interview will go out at some stage of the first half hour of the programme. Mat Heywood from 'Jazz on 3' comments: "The session is great...and will probably appeal to many of Ian's fans - it's Dave Holdsworth's Straight Jack, a tribute to the music of Mike Osborne". Jazz on 3 - Fridays 23:30 - 01:00 - BBC Radio 3 - 90.2 - 92.4 FM
27 March 2003 - A stunningly good review of the BGO Nucleus re-releases ('Solar Plexus'/'Belladonna' and 'Labyrinth'/'Roots') appears in the latest issue of Jazzwise magazine (April 2003) where there is also a review of the forthcoming Jack Bruce re-issues (which includes the long lost classics 'Things we like' and 'Harmony Row' 24 March 2003 - To read the first review of the forthcoming Cuneiform double CD release 'Nucleus Live in Bremen' please click here 21 March 2003 - The Rendell-Carr Quintet "Lansdowne" Series Discography is now complete with track listings and recording dates The Complete Rendell-Carr Quintet Discography 13 March 2003 - Nucleus Live in Bremen (Cuneiform Records Rune 173/174) will be available to purchase from May 6th 2003. If your local record shop has a problem ordering it (which they shouldn't) it can be ordered directly via Cuneiform's online store (they will supply to the UK, etc) at Wayside - a review of this double album will be appearing on this web site soon.
Contacts:
Cargo
Ticketmaster
or telephone: 08700 600 100 
Used with permission of Jazz UK
Formerly a "Little known fact":
4 March 2003 - A press release from Moonjune has announced the imminent forthcoming release from Soft Works of their debut album "Abracadabra". Soft Works features two ex-Ian Carr / Nucleus compatriots Allan Holdsworth and John Marshall and the line-up is completed by ex-Soft Machine colleagues Elton Dean and Hugh Hopper. Release details are: Universal Records, Japan (Street Date: March 5, 2003) and USA release (different CD cover & package) scheduled for Spring 2003 - Label to be announced soon. Moonjune. Available in the USA at: Audiophile imports
21 February 2003 - Ian Carr will be flying off to New Jersey sometime later in the year to interview Keith Jarrett for a forthcoming Channel 4 documentary on this legendary pianist.
18 February 2003 - Jack Bruce, who played several gigs with Nucleus in the early 1970s, will be having all his early solo recordings re-released on Universal from around April 2003.These include his albums 'Songs for a Tailor' and 'Harmony Row' which feature ex-Nucleus members John Marshall and Chris Spedding. Also the great jazz album 'Things We Like' (with Dick Heckstall-Smith, Jon Hiseman, and John McLaughlin) will also be re-issued. See Jack's web site at: Jack Bruce
3 February 2003 - News from Hux Records re: Nucleus BBC Sessions CD release - Nucleus: The BBC Sessions - The March 9, 1971 session features the music from the first three Nucleus albums with the same line-up and the October 6, 1982 session features three tracks: 'Easy Does It Now', 'The Pretty Redhead' (this is the only known recording of this number) and 'For Miles and Miles'. The 1982 session line-up is Ian Carr (t, fh); Tim Whitehead (ss, ts); Mark Wood (g); Joe Hubbard (elb); John Marshall (d). The catalogue number is HUX038 and it's scheduled for an April release.
27 January 2003 - Universal Jazz has released today 'Impressed' a compilation by BBC Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson. This CD, with some of the rarest British modern Jazz ever recorded, includes two tracks by the Rendell-Carr Quintet ('Black Marigolds'and 'Dusk Fire') and other tracks by Michael Garrick, Harry Beckett and Graham Collier, amongst others. 12 January 2003 - The UICNWS Webmaster has received the following message today from Ian Carr reporting that "there seems to be an unprecedented interest internationally in my Nucleus albums. The double CD reissues on BGO are selling out immediately in Japan and Europe. Cuneiform Records in the USA are releasing a two hour live concert which Nucleus performed at Bremen Radio in Germany on 25 May 1971 before an ecstatic audience. [Note: Cuneiform have just informed the web site that this double CD should be released around May 2003 Catalogue number Rune 173/174. It features, amongst others, Ray Russell on guitar].Hux Records in Lancashire are going to release two BBC Radio concerts I did with two different personnels in 1971 and 1982 and both are excellent".