Nucleus (band) Information & Nucleus (band) Links at HealthHaven.com

Nucleus were a pioneering jazz-rock band from Britain who continued in different forms from 1969 to 1985. In their first year they won first prize at the Montreux Jazz Festival, released the album Elastic Rock, an essential creation in the crystallization of a new musical expression, Jazz fusion, and performed both at the Newport Jazz Festival and the Village Gate jazz club.

They were led by Ian Carr, who had been in the Rendell-Carr Quintet during the mid and late 1960s, and was a respected figure in British jazz for more than 40 years. Their jazz-based music evolved from an early sound incorporating elements of progressive and psychedelic rock towards a funkier sound in the mid and late 1970s.

[edit] Lineups

Nucleus' first lineup was leader and trumpeter Ian Carr, keyboardist/oboist Karl Jenkins, saxophonist/flautist Brian Smith, guitarist Chris Spedding, bassist Jeff Clyne and drummer John Marshall.

By their third album, the band had expanded to include trumpeters Kenny Wheeler and Harry Beckett, saxophonist Tony Roberts, bassist Ron Mathewson, percussionist Chris Karan and Keith Winter on VCS3 synthesizer. Dave MacRae joined soon after for several albums.

Over the years the band has seen many members:

Trumpet & flugelhorn: Ian Carr, Kenny Wheeler, Harry Beckett, , Chris Batchelor
Tenor sax, soprano sax, flute: Brian Smith, Bob Bertles, Phil Todd, Tim Whitehead
Clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor sax: Tony Roberts, Tony Coe
Baritone sax, oboe, piano, electric piano: Karl Jenkins
Piano and electric piano: Dave MacRae, Gordon Beck, Geoff Castle
Guitar: Chris Spedding, Allan Holdsworth, Jocelyn Pitchen, Ken Shaw, Mark Wood
Bass guitar: Jeff Clyne, Ron Mathewson, Roy Babbington, Roger Sutton, Billy Kristian, Mo Foster, Dill Katz, Rob Statham
Drums: John Marshall, Clive Thacker, Tony Levin, Bryan Spring, Roger Sellers
Percussion: Chris Karan, Trevor Tomkins, Aureo de Souza, Richard Burgess, Chris Fletcher
Synthesizer: Keith Winter, Paddy Kingsland, Geoff Castle, Neil Ardley
Vocals: Norma Winstone, Joy Yates (Mrs. Dave MacRae), Kieran White
Organ: John Taylor

In August 2005, a special one-off reincarnation of Nucleus, with old and new members, performed at London's Cargo venue, to an enthusiastic reception. This was followed on 30 March 2007 by a Nucleus Revisited concert at London's Pizza Express Jazz Club as part of a series of concerts to mark Jazzwise magazine's 10th anniversary. Nucleus Revisited featured, amongst others, Nucleus stalwarts, Geoff Castle, Mark Wood and Tim Whitehead and on trumpet, as at the 2005 Cargo concert, Chris Batchelor. Although Ian Carr did not play due to ill health, he was present at the concert and received a standing ovation from the ecstatic audience. Nucleus Revisited also appeared at Ronnie Scott's club in London on 4 August 2009 as part of their two week long Brit Jazz Fest. The double billing with Michael Garrick's Quartet drew an appreciative packed house.

[edit] Discography

Elastic Rock 1970
We'll Talk About It Later 1970
Solar Plexus 1971
Belladonna 1972
Labyrinth 1973
Roots 1973
Under The Sun 1974
Alleycat 1975
Snakehips Etcetera 1975
Direct Hits (compilation) 1976
In Flagranti Delicto 1977
Out of the Long Dark 1979
Awakening 1980
Live at the Theaterhaus 1985
Old Heartland 1988
The Pretty Redhead (recorded 1971 and 1982) 2003
Live In Bremen (recorded 1971) 2003
Hemispheres (recorded 1970 & 1971) 2006
UK Tour ‘76 (recorded 1976) 2006
Live In Europe 1970-71 (recorded 1970 & 1971) 2009

[edit] External links