Don Rendell Ian Carr Quintet – Live at the Union 1966

It is a true tragedy to hear of such a great mind in jazz like Scottish horn czar Ian Carr, leader of the celebrated early 70s fusion group Nucleus, succumbing to the memory-erasing effects of Alzheimer’s Disease in February of 2009. This special release is a previously unissued live album of a private recording of a fiery hard bop session from Carr’s early days as a Columbia recording artist alongside fellow UK modernist, saxophone man Don Rendell, was recorded before an intimate crowd of friends at the student union building of London’s University College on December 12, 1966. It is a perfect precursor to the imaginative interplay he would soon bring to the realm of electric jazz with Nucleus’ mesmerizing debut album, 1970’s Elastic Rock. Live At The Union 1966 is a great discovery that displays the fluidity and sheer force of this terribly under-appreciated quintet and, best of all, all proceeds from this CD go directly to Great Britain’s Alzheimer’s Research Trust.