View source for Ian Carr

{{Short description|Scottish jazz musician, composer, writer, and educator (1933-2009)}}
{{For|the guitarist|Ian Carr (guitarist)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name                = Ian Carr
| caption             = 
| image_size          = 
| background          = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name          = Ian Henry Randall Carr
| alias               = 
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|df=yes|1933|4|21}}
| birth_place         = [[Dumfries]], Scotland
| death_date          = {{death date and age|df=yes|2009|2|25|1933|4|21}}
| death_place         = 
| origin              = 
| instrument          = Trumpet
| genre               = [[Jazz]], [[jazz fusion]]
| occupation          = Musician, composer, writer, educator
| years_active        = 
| label               = [[Vertigo Records|Vertigo]]
| associated_acts     = [[Nucleus (band)|Nucleus]], [[United Jazz + Rock Ensemble]]
| website             = 
}}

'''Ian Carr''' (21 April 1933<ref name="LarkinJazz">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz]]|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|editor-first=Colin |editor-last=Larkin|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=|isbn=0-85112-580-8|pages=76/7}}</ref> – 25 February 2009)<ref name=allmusic/> was a Scottish [[jazz]] musician, composer, writer, and educator. Carr performed and recorded with the Rendell-Carr quintet and jazz-fusion band [[Nucleus (band)|Nucleus]], and was an associate professor at the [[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]] in London. He also wrote biographies of musicians [[Keith Jarrett]] and [[Miles Davis]].

==Early years==
Ian Henry Randall Carr was born in [[Dumfries]], Scotland, the elder brother of [[Mike Carr (musician)|Mike Carr]].<ref name="LarkinJazz"/> From 1952 to 1956, Carr attended King's College, now [[Newcastle University]], where he read English Literature,<ref name=allmusic>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ian-carr-mn0000087205/biography|title=Ian Carr &#124; Biography & History|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=25 July 2021}}</ref> followed by a diploma in education.

==Musical career==
At the age of 17, Carr started to teach himself trumpet.<ref name="LarkinJazz"/> After university he joined his brother in a Newcastle band, the [[EmCee Five]], from 1960 to 1962, before moving to London, where he played in a quintet co-lead by [[Don Rendell]], with pianist [[Michael Garrick]], bassist [[Dave Green (musician)|Dave Green]], and drummer [[Trevor Tomkins]].<ref name="LarkinJazz"/> In its six years (1963–1969) the Rendell–Carr Quintet recorded five albums and performed internationally. All records originally issued by [[EMI]] have been re-released.<ref name="LarkinJazz"/> During the 1960s he also played with the [[New Jazz Orchestra]] under the direction of [[Neil Ardley]] and recorded an album with altoist [[Joe Harriott]].

After leaving the quintet, Carr went on to form the ground-breaking [[jazz-rock]] band [[Nucleus (band)|Nucleus]].<ref name=fordham>[[Fordham, John]] (28 February 2009), [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/feb/28/obituary-ian-carr-jazz "Obituary: Ian Carr"], ''[[The Guardian]]''. Retrieved 19 June 2013.</ref> This led to the release of 12 albums (some under the band's name, some under Carr's), and a successful international career. In their first year Nucleus won first prize at the [[Montreux Jazz Festival]], released their first album, ''[[Elastic Rock]]'',<ref name="LarkinJazz"/> and performed at both the [[Newport Jazz Festival]]<ref name=fordham/> and the [[Village Gate]] jazz club. Carr also played with the [[United Jazz + Rock Ensemble]] from 1975.<ref name="LarkinJazz"/>

Carr worked as a [[session musician]] in non-jazz contexts, with [[Nico]], [[No-Man]], [[Faultline (musician)|Faultline]], and others. He also doubled on [[flugelhorn]].

==Writing and academic career==
Apart from writing a regular column for the ''[[BBC Music Magazine]]'', Carr wrote biographies of the jazz musicians [[Keith Jarrett]] and [[Miles Davis]].<ref name=fordham/> Carr was also the co-author of the reference work ''[[Rough Guides|The Rough Guide]] to Jazz'', which has passed through four editions from 1994 (originally ''Jazz, The Essential Companion'', 1988). In addition he contributed sleeve notes for the albums of other musicians (e.g. ''[[Indo-Jazz Fusions]]'' by [[Joe Harriott]] and [[John Mayer (composer)|John Mayer]]).

In 1987, Carr was appointed associate professor at the [[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]] in London,<ref name=allmusic/> where he taught composition and performance, especially improvisation. He was founder of the jazz workshop at the Interchange arts scheme, where pianist [[Julian Joseph]], among others, was one of his students.

==Death==
Ian Carr died aged 75 on 25 February 2009, having suffered from [[Alzheimer's disease]]. A memorial service was held at [[Golders Green Crematorium]] in London the following month. In addition to fellow Nucleus member Geoff Castle, speakers at the service included artist [[Gerald Laing]], author, critic and broadcaster [[Alyn Shipton]], [[Mike Dibb]] (with whom Carr collaborated on two films on [[Miles Davis]] and [[Keith Jarrett]])<ref>[[Steve Voce|Voce, Steve]] (27 February 2009), [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ian-carr-trumpeter-and-composer-whose-band-nucleus-was-at-the-forefront-of-the-jazzrock-movement-1633339.html "Ian Carr: Trumpeter and composer whose band Nucleus was at the forefront of the jazz-rock movement"], ''[[The Independent]]''.</ref> and Carr's students [[Julian Joseph]], Sara Dillon and [[Nikki Yeoh]].

== Discography ==
=== Rendell–Carr Quintet ===
As co-leader with [[Don Rendell]]
* ''Shades of Blue'' (Columbia, 1964)
* ''Dusk Fire'' (Columbia, 1966)
* ''Phase III'' (Columbia, 1968)
* ''Live'' (Columbia, 1969) – live
* ''Change Is'' (Columbia, 1969)
* ''Live in London'' (Harkit, 2003) – live rec. 1965
* ''Original 1964–68 Recordings / Live from the [[Jazz à Juan|Antibes Jazz Festival]]'' (Spotlite, 2007) – live, compilation
* ''Live at the Union 1966'' (Reel, 2010) – live rec. 1966
* ''Live at Klooks Kleek'' (Record Collector Magazine, 2017)[2LP] – live rec. 1963

=== Nucleus ===
As leader of [[Nucleus (band)|Nucleus]]
* ''[[Elastic Rock]]'' (Vertigo, 1970)
* ''We'll Talk about It Later'' (Vertigo, 1971)
* ''Solar Plexus'' (Vertigo, 1971) – released as a "Ian Carr with Nucleus" album.
* ''Labyrinth'' (Vertigo, 1973) – released as a "Ian Carr with Nucleus" album
* ''Roots'' (Vertigo, 1973) – released as a "Ian Carr's Nucleus" album
* ''Under the Sun'' (Vertigo, 1974)
* ''Snakehips Etcetera'' (Vertigo, 1975)
* ''Alleycat'' (Vertigo, 1975)
* ''In Flagranti Delicto'' (Capitol, 1977) – released as a "Ian Carr's Nucleus" album
* ''Out of the Long Dark'' (Capitol, 1979) – released as a "Ian Carr's Nucleus" album
* ''Awakening'' (Mood, 1980) – released as a "Ian Carr's Nucleus" album
* ''Jazz-London 29 / 30'' (BBC Transcription Service, 1983) – live, [[split album]] with The [[Brian Lemon]] Quartet.
* ''Live at the Theaterhaus'' (Mood, 1985) – live, released as a "Ian Carr's Nucleus" album.
* ''Live in Bremen'' (Cuneiform, 2003)[2CD] – live rec. 1971
* ''The Pretty Redhead'' (Hux, 2003)  – rec. 1971, 1982
* ''Hemispheres'' (Hux, 2006) – live rec. 1970–71
* ''UK Tour '76'' (Major League Productions, 2006)[2CD] – live rec. 1976 at [[Loughborough University]]
* ''Live in Europe 1970-71'' (Hux, 2009) – live rec. 1970–71
* ''Live 1970'' with [[Leon Thomas]] (Gearbox, 2014)[2LP] – live rec. 1970 at [[Montreux Jazz Festival]]

'''Compilations'''
* ''Direct Hits'' (Vertigo, 1976) – rec. 1970–74, released as a "Ian Carr's Nucleus" album.
* ''Three of a Kind'' (Gonzo Multimedia, 2015) – rec. 1976–83

=== As leader ===
* ''Belladonna'' (Vertigo, 1972)
* ''Old Heartland'' (MMC, 1988)
* ''Sounds and Sweet Airs (That Give Delight and Hurt Not)'' (Celestial Harmonies, 1994) – rec. 1992

=== As co-leader or sideman ===
* Emcee Five – ''Take Five'' (Columbia, 1962)
* [[Roy Budd]] – "'Roy Budd" (Pye, 1965)[7"]
* [[New Jazz Orchestra]] – ''Western Reunion'' ([[Decca Records|Decca]], 1965)
* with [[Jeff Clyne]] – ''Springboard'' (Polydor, 1969) – rec. 1966
* [[New Jazz Orchestra]] – ''Le Déjeuner sur l'Herbe'' ([[Verve Records|Verve]], 1969)
* The [[Joe Harriott]] / [[Amancio D'Silva]] Quartet – ''Hum-Dono'' (Columbia, 1969)
* with [[Neil Ardley]] & [[Don Rendell]] – ''Variations & Other Aegean Exercises'' (Columbia, 1970)
* with Neil Ardley, [[Michael Gibbs (composer)|Mike Gibbs]], and [[Stan Tracey]] – ''Power'' (Argo, 1974)[2LP]
* with the Algemona Quartetto – ''Jazz 80'' (Mia, 1980)
* Emcee Five – ''Bebop 61: Bebop from the East Coast 1960/1962'' (Birdland, 1987) – rec. 1961–67
* [[George Russell (composer)|George Russell]]'s Living Time Orchestra, ''[[The London Concert (George Russell album)|The London Concert]]'' (Label Bleu, 1990) – live rec. 1989
* Zyklus – ''Virtual Realities'' (AMP, 1991)
* [[Don Rendell]], ''Reunion'' (Spotlite Jazz, 2002)
* with [[Jon Hiseman]], [[Barbara Thompson (musician)|Barbara Thompson]] and others, ''Mike Taylor Remembered'' (Trunk, 2007) – rec. 1973, a tribute to [[Mike Taylor (musician)|Mike Taylor]]
* [[New Jazz Orchestra]] – ''On the Radio: BBC Sessions 1971'' (Dusk Fire, 2017)

==Publications==
* 1973: ''Music Outside: Contemporary Jazz in Britain.'' Latimer New Dimensions, {{ISBN|0-901539-25-2}}.
** 2008: 2nd edn., with new postscript and photographs. London: [[Northway Publications]], {{ISBN|978-0-9550908-6-8}}.
*1982: ''Miles Davis.'' Quartet / William Morrow & Co, {{ISBN|0-704-32273-0}} / {{ISBN|0-688-01321-X}}.
*1988: ''Jazz: The Essential Companion,'' with [[Digby Fairweather]] & [[Brian Priestley]]. Paladin Books, {{ISBN|0-586-08530-0}}
*1991: ''Keith Jarrett: The Man and His Music.'' Grafton Books, {{ISBN|0-246-13434-8}}.
*1999: ''Miles Davis: The Definitive Biography.'' Thunder's Mouth Press, {{ISBN|1-56025-241-3}}.
*2004: ''The Rough Guide to Jazz'' with Digby Fairweather & Brian Priestley. 3rd ed., Rough Guides Limited, {{ISBN|1-84353-256-5}}.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Alyn Shipton, ''Out of the Long Dark: The Life of Ian Carr'', 2006.
* Roger Farbey, ''The Music of Ian Carr – A Critical Discography'', 2010.
** ''Elastic Dream: The Music of Ian Carr – A Critical Discography, 2nd revised edition'', 2015.
** ''Elastic Dream: The Music of Ian Carr – An Annotated Discography, 3rd revised edition'', 2023.

==External links==
*[https://elasticjazz.wixsite.com/iancarrsnucleus The Ian Carr and Nucleus Website]
*[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Ian+Carr Ian Carr] / [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Don+Rendell+/+Ian+Carr+Quintet,+The The Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet] / [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Nucleus,+(3) Nucleus] discographies at [[Discogs]]
*Roger Farbey, ''[http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=18154 Ian Carr: The Maestro and His Music]'' – AllAboutJazz.com 7 July 2005
*John Kelman, ''[http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=15163 Ian Carr and Nucleus: '70s British Jazz Rock Progenitors]'', 19 January 2004 – AllAboutJazz.com
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050316073922/http://www.ejn.it/mus/carr.htm Ian Carr biographical sketch] – European Jazz Network
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20040315075853/http://www.jazzscript.co.uk/CDp/carr.htm Ian Carr]}} – Jazzscript
* {{imdb name|1182936}}
* {{discogs artist|Ian Carr}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carr, Ian}}
[[Category:20th-century Scottish male musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century British jazz composers]]
[[Category:20th-century British trumpeters]]
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:Academics of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama]]
[[Category:Alumni of Newcastle University]]
[[Category:Centipede (band) members]]
[[Category:Jazz-rock trumpeters]]
[[Category:British male jazz composers]]
[[Category:British male trumpeters]]
[[Category:New Jazz Orchestra members]]
[[Category:Nucleus (band) members]]
[[Category:People educated at Barnard Castle School]]
[[Category:Musicians from Dumfries]]
[[Category:Scottish jazz composers]]
[[Category:Scottish jazz trumpeters]]
[[Category:United Jazz + Rock Ensemble members]]