Ian Carr RIP

Ian Henry Randell Carr 21.4.33 – 25.2.09
Ian Carr was probably the greatest jazz trumpet player that the UK has produced. Certainly he was one of the great innovators in jazz and his award-winning band Nucleus captured the attention of a far wider audience than those usually commanded by more conventional jazz groups. Educated at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne he took a degree in English and served in the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers during National Service where he rose to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
Ian Carr started out his professional jazz career in his home town of Newcastle in the 1950s playing in his brother Mike’s band, the EmCee 5 for which he underwent an audition to prove his worth (he passed it). By the early 1960s Carr had moved down to London from the North East of England and for a time played in bands led by flautist and saxophonist Harold McNair. He then joined established reedsman Don Rendell to form the Rendell Carr Quintet which recorded five albums for EMI’s Columbia label under the supervision of the British Svengali of jazz, Denis Preston for his renowned 'Lansdowne' jazz series of recordings. During this period Carr also performed and recorded with the New Jazz Orchestra whose members included the likes of Neil Ardley, Jon Hiseman and Barbara Thompson with whom he had subsequent associations in different musical projects. He also recorded albums under the aegis of Michael Garrick, Joe Harriott, Amancio d’Silva, Stan Tracey and Guy Warren of Ghana to name but a few.
Although the Rendell Carr Quintet was musically successful, as reflected in the Melody Maker jazz polls of the period, where the RCQ regularly won the small group category, Carr was beginning to yearn for greater, more adventurous careers pathways. Following an ambitious set of compositions for the notable album ‘Greek Variations’ (with other tracks composed by Don Rendell and Neil Ardley), Carr formed his own band Nucleus along with Karl Jenkins (keyboard, reeds) and John Marshall (drums) both former alumni of Graham Collier’s band plus New Zealand saxophonist Brian Smith, Jeff Clyne on bass and Chris Spedding on guitar. Nucleus recorded nine albums for Polygram’s Vertigo label between 1970 and 1975 and later for other labels including the US Capitol label. The group won first prize at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1970 and went on to play at the Newport Jazz Festival where they wowed audiences.
The original personnel of Nucleus changed after the first three albums, and many well-known jazz and rock names variously supplemented its ranks including Jack Bruce, Allan Holdsworth, Ray Russell, Alan Skidmore, Bryan Spring and Tony Levin. Carr was always the leader and main inspiration of Nucleus and often its chief composer, as with two Arts Council bursary-funded albums ‘Solar Plexus’ and ‘Labyrinth’. Carr recruited guest stars of international reputation for these projects including Kenny Wheeler, Harry Beckett, Gordon Beck, Norma Winstone and Tony Coe. Nucleus also played a major role both in the recording and live performances of ‘A Kaleidoscope of Rainbows’ by Carr’s great friend, Neil Ardley.
By the late 1970s and with the dissolution of Nucleus, Carr, along with erstwhile New Jazz Orchestra colleagues Barbara Thompson and Jon Hiseman, became founder members of the superb United Jazz and Rock Ensemble which recorded a dozen albums including ‘Live in Schutzenhaus’. the biggest selling jazz album produced in Germany.
Carr also had a successful writing career and following his book on British jazz ‘Music Outside’ (Latimer, 1973 and republished in 2008) he went on to write the definitive biography of his hero, Miles Davis and later a biography of Keith Jarrett. He was also musical consultant for two films about these two musicians, made by the director Mike Dibb. Carr also co-edited the Rough Guide to Jazz with Digby Fairweather and Brian Priestley.
Ian Carr was also a broadcaster and amongst other projects he narrated a six-part series for BBC Radio 3's 'Jazz File' on the life of Miles Davis, broadcast to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Miles' birth in 2006. He was also an inspiring teacher and Associate Professor of Jazz at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He also taught at the Weekend Arts College for groups of young jazz musicians in North London and many of today’s jazz stars, such as pianist Julian Joseph and vocalist Cleveland Watkiss (both of whom performed at a tribute concert for Carr held at the Guildhall School of Music in November 2006) were inspired by him for his boundless enthusiasm and encouragement. He continued playing until the beginning of the twenty first century, with revived versions of Nucleus, a duet album with John Taylor (‘Songs and Sweet Airs’) and yet another project with Neil Ardley, Zyklus. He also guested with the orchestras of George Russell and Mike Gibbs.
Personally, Carr had his share of troubles with the death of his first wife Margaret in childbirth in 1967. He developed bowel cancer in the mid-1970s but following surgery, he managed a swift recovery from this illness. He also suffered from bouts of depression and one of his later albums was entitled ‘Out of the Long Dark’ reflecting his emergence from this condition. In the early 2000s he had a succession of mini strokes but continued to work and play, however, he was later afflicted by Alzheimer’s Disease. He spent his last years in specialist care homes.
Wider public recognition came late for Ian Carr receiving 'Services to Jazz' presentations from both the BBC Jazz Awards and the Parliamentary Jazz Awards coincidentally in the same year (2006). Despite all his troubles, Carr remained an irrepressibly cheerful and enthusiastic person and was a true inspiration to countless friends, colleagues and fans alike.
Roger Farbey

http://www.iancarrsnucleus.net/IanCarrobituary.html