This is an interesting link (foot of posting) to an Emcee 5 discography. No surprising hidden gems emerge as I think their total output was captured on an LP and an EP - their national reputation was based on the latter disc. North East fans of course knew of them from the old Down Beat club.
The reviews of the EP remind us of the impact they made at the time; unknown for a provincial jazz group in those days. The Brothers Carr, Gary Cox and Ronnie Stephenson went on to national and international acclaim. Sadly, Ian Carr and Ronnie Stephenson are no longer with us. Gary Cox, Ray Harley informs me, is a near neighbour of his in Portugal.
I'm not quite sure how bassist Malcolm Cecil became involved as he was a London musician who'd played with the Jazz Couriers and is, I understand, still active. John O' Carroll I think was the original bass player. It is said the band took it's name from Malcolm Cecil's initials but I'd have been tempted to think it was from Mike Carr's initials. Can anyone clarify?
Lance.
1 comment :
Not sure about the name - just presumed the MC was for Mike Carr. John O'Carroll was a fine bass player - he worked a lot with Billy Harper (eg. a Saturday residency at Ramside Hall that went on for years and which had quite a following). This was with Anne singing and Billy Shield on drums.
I heard John passed away just a few months back.
Roly
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