Nucleus (band)
| Company type | Ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Founder | Ian Carr |
| Defunct | 1989 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Jazz rock music |
Nucleus was a British ensemble specializing in jazz rock, active between 1969 and 1989.[1] In 1970, the group secured first place at the Montreux Jazz Festival, launched their album Elastic Rock, and appeared at both the Newport Jazz Festival and the Village Gate jazz venue.[2]
The band was established by Ian Carr,[3][4] who had previously performed with the Rendell–Carr Quintet. Nucleus debuted with Elastic Rock in 1970, followed by We'll Talk About It Later and Solar Plexus in 1971, all released through Vertigo Records. Music critic Colin Larkin regarded these albums as essential additions to any thorough rock or jazz collection.[1]
In August 2005, a reassembled Nucleus featuring original and new musicians played at Cargo in London.[5] Subsequently, on 30 March 2007, Nucleus Revisited held a performance at London's PizzaExpress Jazz Club to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Jazzwise magazine. The ensemble included Geoff Castle, Mark Wood, Tim Whitehead, and trumpeter Chris Batchelor. Although Ian Carr was unable to perform due to health issues, he was present and honored with a standing ovation. On 4 August 2009, Nucleus Revisited performed at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London as part of the Brit Jazz Fest alongside the quartet led by Michael Garrick.
Members
- Ian Carr – trumpet
- Chris Batchelor – trumpet
- Harry Beckett – trumpet
- Kenny Wheeler – trumpet
- Bob Bertles – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute
- Brian Smith – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute
- Phil Todd – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute
- Tim Whitehead – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute
- Karl Jenkins – baritone saxophone, oboe, piano, electric piano
- Tony Coe – clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone
- Tony Roberts – clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone
- Geoff Castle – piano, electric piano, synthesizer
- Ken Shaw – electric guitar
- Gordon Beck – piano, electric piano
- Dave MacRae – piano, electric piano
- John Taylor – organ
- Paddy Kingsland – synthesizer
- Keith Winter – synthesizer
- Allan Holdsworth – guitar
- Jocelyn Pitchen – guitar
- Ray Russell – guitar
- Chris Spedding – guitar
- Mark Wood – guitar
- Roy Babbington – bass guitar
- Rob Burns – bass guitar
- Jeff Clyne – bass guitar
- Mo Foster – bass guitar
- Joe Hubbard – bass guitar
- Billy Kristian – bass guitar
- Dill Katz – bass guitar
- Rob Statham – bass guitar
- Roger Sutton – bass guitar
- Ron Mathewson – bass guitar
- Neil Ardley – drums
- Tony Levin – drums
- Roger Sellers – drums
- Bryan Spring – drums
- John Marshall – drums
- Clive Thacker – drums
- Richard Burgess – percussion
- Chris Fletcher – percussion
- Chris Karan – percussion
- Aureo de Souza – percussion
- Trevor Tomkins – percussion
- Kieran White – vocals
- Norma Winstone – vocals
- Joy Yates – vocals
Discography
- Elastic Rock (Vertigo, 1970) (Reached No. 46 on the UK Albums Chart)
- We'll Talk About It Later (Vertigo, 1970)
- Solar Plexus featuring Ian Carr (Vertigo, 1971)
- Belladonna (Vertigo, 1972)
- Labyrinth in collaboration with Ian Carr (Vertigo, 1973)
- Roots (Vertigo, 1973)
- Under the Sun (Vertigo, 1974)
- Snakehips Etcetera (Vertigo, 1975)
- Alleycat (Vertigo, 1975)
- In Flagranti Delicto (Contemp, 1977)
- Out of the Long Dark (Capitol, 1979)
- Awakening (Mood, 1980)
- Jazz London 29/30 with Brian Lemon (BBC, 1983)
- Live at the Theaterhaus (Mood, 1985)
- Live in Bremen (Cuneiform, 2003)
- The Pretty Redhead (Hux, 2003)
- Hemispheres (Hux, 2006)
- UK Tour '76 (Major League, 2006)
- Live 1970 featuring Leon Thomas (Gearbox, 2014)
- Three of a Kind with Ian Carr (Gonzo, 2015)
- Bracknell Sunshine alongside Ian Carr (Gonzo, 2016)
- Live At The BBC – comprehensive 13-CD collection (Repertoire, 2021)
External links
- Official website for Ian Carr and Nucleus
- Feature on Nucleus at All About Jazz
- Profile of Ian Carr at All About Jazz
- Nucleus entry at Prog Archives
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