The following is a brief overview of this CD of very rare and previously unreleased material. It is considered to be of such major historical interest that it has been included for review on this web site.

Astonishingly, this is only the third album of music by the now legendary Rendell Carr Quintet released in the last thirty years. The first two, on Spotlite, were recorded some thirty years apart. This one recorded by jazz journalist Les Tomkins provides a rare insight into the sound of the classic line-up of Carr, Rendell, Garrick, Green and Tomkins. The music is, of course, played fantastically well. The tracks are varied and there is over 70 minutes worth of music here. There are tracks by Garrick ('Promises') and by Miles ('Blues by Five') and some other equally good ones including Neil Ardley's 'Shades of Blue'. The sound quality is surprisingly good despite being recorded in mono, which is not surprising for the year in which it was recorded. Reflected particularly in the last, lengthy track, Garrick’s ‘Promises’, there is a clearly audible and priceless amtmosphere on the bandstand of genuine bonhomie and enthusiasm, exemplified by Mingusian like whoops of encouragement from band members. This clearly displays what a tight knit, relaxed and self assured outfit they really were. The real surprise of the album is of course the shocking realisation that none of the EMI Columbia studio recordings (four studio and one live) have ever been re-released by successive owners of these titles. Considering the major historic importance of this Quintet in the context of jazz in Britain, this is nothing short of an absolute disgrace. These albums should and must be re-released as soon as possible, especially since (as if to rub salt into the wound) it has been disclosed by virtue of two Rendell Carr Quintet tracks being re-issued on the Gilles Peterson 'Impressed' compilation earlier this year, that the master tapes of all the albums have been located in good condition. The five albums, 'Shades of Blue', 'Dusk Fire', 'Phase III', 'Live' and 'Change-Is' need to be fast tracked to re-release because they are probably five of the most outstandingly important testaments to modern British jazz ever produced and if nothing else, this album proves it.

Rendell Carr Quintet Live in London
Harkit Records HRKCD8045 
Release date: 4 August 2003

Full track listing:

Blues by Five
Jonah and the Whale
Shades of Blue
Hot Rod
Garrison '64
Promises