Their can be few north-east jazz fans of 'a certain age' who aren't saddened by the death of Ian Carr. As co-leader of the now legendary Emcee Five he helped tell the world that hard bop wasn't confined to New York, L.A. or even London but was also flourishing at the Down Beat Club in Carliol Square, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. To this day I still play the vinyl recordings they made back in the early 1960s and believe you me they have stood the test of time.
Ian also wrote what is possibly the definitive book on Miles Davis.
I later heard him with Nucleus and other jazz/rock/experimental groups but, for me, I'll always remember that Milesian (what better description is there!) sound of his horn as I climbed the stairs at Carliol Square nearly 50 years ago.
Lance
Hi Lance
ReplyDeleteSad news but not entirely unexpected.I saw Ian Carr's Nucleus in,of all places,Wallsend.I'd have loved to have heard him play years earlier-I make do with LPs (those things before CD).
Russell
Wallsend? I guess that would be the Buddle Arts Centre - I seem to recall being there myself.
ReplyDeleteI also saw Ian Carr at Wallsend's Rising Sun pub. Band included Tony Coe, John Etheridge, John Stevens as well as our own Nigel and Germaine Stanger - quite aa night.
Sad news but what great memories.
ReplyDeleteHave a look on Ian's web site:- (see links.)
Hi Lance
ReplyDeleteYes it was the Buddle-not many there I recall.The line-up included north-east guitarist Mark Wood.Years earlier I heard Wood in the bar of the then University Theatre.He could only have been in his teens-looking and sounding like Barney Kessel.At the Buddle his image and sound had changed.Hair,leather trousers and a contemporary playing style ideal for Carr's Nucleus.
Whatever happened to Wood ? Is he still around on the London scene ?
At the University Theatre did he ''sit in'' or was he part of a regular band ? I can't remember.
Russell
I remember Mark Wood as being quite an amazing young player. I think he was at the College and I vagually associate him with a band that included Joy Askew - was this the 'Friends of Jazz' I wonder?
ReplyDeletePerhaps 'Dave the Rave' can tell us. Possibly Roly knows what became of Mark Wood?
I'm pretty sure he's still around the London scene.
There's a photo of Mark Wood on the Nucleus site. A 2005 reunion shot. He still looks young!
ReplyDelete