Ian Carr’s Nucleus – Roots LP

Description

2022 repress. Be With Records present a reissue ofIan Carr’s Nucleus‘Roots, originally released on Vertigo in 1973. From the wild cover to the iconic breakbeats,Rootsis thick, funky-prog jazz-rock heaven. Genius trumpeter and visionary composerIan Carrwas a true pioneer and saw the potential in fusing the worlds of jazz with rock, just asMiles DavisandThe Tony Williams Lifetimedid in the US. In late 1969, following the demise of theRendell-Carrquintet, and tiring of British jazz, Carr assembled the legendaryNucleus. Under bandleader Carr, Nucleus existed as a fluid line-up of inventive, skilled musicians. Working together with producerFritz Fryerand engineerRoger Wake, the seven compositions by Carr,Brian SmithandDave MacRaethat make upRootsflirt with perfection, and Nucleus at that time made up of the cream of 1970s UK jazz with Brian Smith on tenor saxophones and flutes, Dave MacRae on piano and electric piano,Jocelyn Pitchenon guitar,Roger Suttonon bass, bothClive ThackerandAureo De Souzaon drums and percussion,Joy Yatesdelivering the vocals and of course Carr on trumpet. The title track is a low-slung, doped-out heist-funk. It was sampled byMadlibforLootpackandQuasimoto‘s “Loop Digga”. The soothing vocal fusion delight of “Images” follows. Meticulously constructed, with gorgeous flute work from Brian Smith, with Joy Yates’ silky vocals and Dave MacRae’s Rhodes never sounding better. The cool, driving “Caliban” closes out the first side. Originally the third movement in a four-part commission to celebrateShakespeare‘s birthday it stands up on its own, all robust rhythms and blended brass. Keyboard color and Carr’s trumpet are splashed across the funk drums and basslines (and there’s even some bamboo flute). Side two opens with the short, thrilling samba of “Wapatiti”. Next up, “Capricorn” forms a smoothed-out, jazzy constellation. Mellow and dreamy, its twinkling percussion and languid horns slowly build the vibe before head-nod drums and a killer bassline enter the fray. With a distinct heaviness thatBlack Sabbathwould’ve envied, “Odokamona” is a venomous slice of riff-soaked jazz metal, elevated by Carr’s wah-wah horns. The album closes with MacRae’s exceptionally cosmic “Southern Roots And Celebration”. Very much in conversation withWeather Report, it opens as a languorous, spiritual jazz of chiming keys and serene guitar that turns slowly, gorgeously into a mid-paced, brass-laced banger.Keith Davis‘s cover art forRootsis an acid-tinged airbrush dystopian/utopian living-room party scene. Remastered bySimon Francisfrom the original Vertigo master tapes. Cut byPete Norman.