Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Guitar [Tenor] – Brian Godding
Drums, Percussion – Dave Sheen
Electric Bass, Double Bass [String Bass] – Steve Cook
Saxophone, Flute – George Khan
The short-lived Jazz-Rock Fusion group Mirage is an excellent example of the incredible high level of music created in Britain in the 1970s. Co-led by two great instrumentalist and composers: saxophonist George Khan and guitarist Brian Godding, they managed to record just one album, which was originally released on the obscure, but visionary Norwegian Compendium label (along with some other superb albums), which unfortunately folded shortly after this album was released. The group also included bassist Steve Cook and drummer Dave Sheen on permanent basis, but was often expanded to a sextet with the addition of Geoff Castle on keyboards and John Mitchell on percussion. The group played music composed by Khan and Godding, which was a typical British Fusion, somewhat similar to what the many Canterbury groups (Hatfield And The North, National Health) were doing at the time, with strong melodic lines and lengthy improvisations. Godding was of course one of the best British guitarists, sadly much under-appreciated and respected mostly among his peers. This most welcome reissue expands the original album by adding two long jam-like tracks recorded live, which give an excellent glimpse as to how the group (in its sextet form) sounded on stage. Brilliant stuff, from start to finish and a must to all Fusion-heads.
0114. Nucleus Never Carry Any More Than You Can Eat 2:04
0115. Nucleus Ballad Of Joe Pimp 4:55
0116. Nucleus 1916 (The Battle Of Boogaloo) 5:53
BBC Radio 3 Jazz In Britain, 27 July 1970
0117. Nucleus Sun Child 8:46
0118. Nucleus Introduction: Brian Priestley 0:47
0119. Nucleus Freudian Saturday 5:04
0120. Nucleus Outro: Brian Priestley 0:35
0201. Nucleus Oasis 9:53
0202. Nucleus Introduction: Brian Priestley 0:31
0203. Nucleus Jam 3:11
BBC Radio 2 Jazz Club, 11 October 1970
0204. Nucleus 1916 (Battle Of Boogaloo) 14:17
0205. Bearded Lady 10:34
0206. Nucleus We’ll Talk About It Later 9:55
0207. Nucleus Snakehips’ Dream 5:58
BBC Transcription Service Jazz London, 9 March 1971
0208. Nucleus Song For The Bearded Lady 10:24
0209. Nucleus Elastic 5:57
0210. Nucleus Snakehips’ Dream 8:08
BBC Radio 1 Top Gear, 27 March 1971
0301. Nucleus Snakehips’ Dream 8:30
0302. Nucleus Introduction: John Peel
0303. Nucleus Song For The Bearded Lady 9:45
0304. Nucleus Morning Call 4:42
BBC Radio 1 John Peel Sunday Concert, 18 April 1971
0305. Nucleus Introduction: John Peel
0306. Nucleus Song For The Bearded Lady 13:36
0307. Nucleus Snakehips’ Dream 15:32
0308. Nucleus Crude Blues Part Two 4:08
BBC Radio 3 Jazz In Britain, 19 April 1971
0401. Nucleus Introduction: Don Locke 2:58
0402. Nucleus The Dream 26:45
BBC Radio 1 Top Gear, 10 October 1972
0403. Nucleus Mayday 5:30
0404. Nucleus Belladonna 10:36
0405. Nucleus Suspension 6:08
BBC Radio 3 Jazz In Britain, Part Of A Concert Recorded On St. David’s Day, 11 March 1974
0501. Ian Carr's Nucleus New Life 6:30
0502. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Peter Clayton 0:50
0503. Ian Carr's Nucleus Sarsaparilla 7:16
0504. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Peter Clayton 0:38
0505. Ian Carr's Nucleus Pastoral Graffiti 7:05
0506. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Peter Clayton 0:39
0507. Ian Carr's Nucleus Theme 3: Rites Of Man 7:03
BBC Radio 3 Jazz In Britain, 28 August 1975
0508. Nucleus With Ian Carr Snakehips Etcetera 11:06
0509. Nucleus With Ian Carr Introduction: Charles Alexander 0:21
0510. Nucleus With Ian Carr Alive and Kicking 9:11
0511. Nucleus With Ian Carr Rat’s Bag 5:58
0512. Nucleus With Ian Carr– Outro: Charles Alexander 0:16
BBC Radio 2 Sounds Of Jazz, 26 June 1977
0513. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Peter Clayton 0:17
0514. Ian Carr's Nucleus Splat 9:39
0515. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Peter Clayton 1:02
0516. Ian Carr's Nucleus Brain Child 6:53
0517. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Peter Clayton 1:06
0601. Ian Carr's Nucleus In Flagrante Delicto 7:31
BBC Radio 3 Jazz In Britain, 17 March 1980
0602. Nucleus Introduction: Charles Fox 2:50
0603. Nucleus Sassy (American Girl) 10:00
0604. Nucleus Black Ballad (Ecce Domina) 7:40
0605. Nucleus Simply This (The Human Condition) 9:19
0606. Nucleus Outro: Charles Fox 0:35
BBC Radio 3 Jazz In Britain, 16 February 1981
0607. The Ian Carr Band Conversation With The Blues Part 1 9:10
0608. The Ian Carr Band Conversation With The Blues Part 2 9:14
0609 The Ian Carr Band Sidewalk 7:34
BBC Radio 3 Jazz In Britain, 8 November 1982
0610. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Charles Fox 1:30
0611. Ian Carr's Nucleus Easy Does It Now 9:32
0701. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Charles Fox 1:29
0702. Ian Carr's Nucleus The Pretty Redhead 9:05
0703. Ian Carr's Nucleus For Miles And Miles 6:35
BBC Radio 1 Sounds Of Jazz, 12 December 1982
0704. Ian Carr's Nucleus Dawn Choruses 8:30
0705. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Peter Clayton 1:19
0706. Ian Carr's Nucleus After The Rain 9:27
0707. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Peter Clayton 1:15
0708. Ian Carr's Nucleus You Can’t Be Serious You Must Be Joking 7:03
0709. Ian Carr's Nucleus Outro: Peter Clayton 1:00
BBC Radio 3 Jazz Today, 6 April 1983
0710. Nucleus Introduction: Charles Fox 3:29
0711. Nucleus Symptoms Of Love 9:07
0712. Nucleus She Tells Her Love 6:32
0713. Nucleus Introduction: Charles Fox 1:13
0714. Nucleus Love In Barrenness 2:22
0715. Nucleus Remorse Code 7:25
0716. Nucleus Outro: Charles Fox 0:18
BBC Radio 2 Sounds Of Jazz, 22 April 1984
0801. Ian Carr's Nucleus Something For Mister Jelly Lord 8:49
0802. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Ian Carr 1:07
0803. Ian Carr's Nucleus She Tells Her Love 8:19
0804. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Ian Carr 0:44
0805. Ian Carr's Nucleus Bouquets Pour Ma Belle 7:41
BBC Radio 3 Jazz Today, 12 February 1985
0806. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Charles Fox 0:52
0807. Ian Carr's Nucleus Chiaroscuro 7:25
0808. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Charles Fox 0:22
0809. Ian Carr's Nucleus Midnight Oil 5:04
0810. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Charles Fox 0:29
0811. Ian Carr's Nucleus Awakening 9:58
0812. Ian Carr's Nucleus Outro: Charles Fox 0:23
BBC Radio 2 Sounds Of Jazz, 14 April 1985
0813. Ian Carr's Jazz Nucleus Dawn Choruses 8:27
0814. Ian Carr's Jazz Nucleus Introduction: Peter Clayton 1:09
0815. Ian Carr's Jazz Nucleus For Miles And Miles 8:09
0816. Ian Carr's Jazz Nucleus Introduction: Peter Clayton 0:50
0817. Ian Carr's Jazz Nucleus Easy Does It Now 7:23
0818. Ian Carr's Jazz Nucleus Outro: Peter Clayton 0:26
BBC Radio 2 Sounds Of Jazz, 31 January 1988
0901. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Peter Clayton 0:23
0902. Ian Carr's Nucleus Dawn Choruses 11:10
0903. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Ian Carr 0:53
0904. Ian Carr's Nucleus For Miles And Miles 11:28
0905. Ian Carr's Nucleus Open Country 29:52
0906. Ian Carr's Nucleus Outro: Peter Clayton 0:55
BBC Radio 3 Music In Our Time, 7 March 1991
1001. Ian Carr And His Band Introduction: Ian Carr 1:27
1002. Ian Carr And His Band Trio For Open Trumpet, EWI and Drums 4:43
1003. Ian Carr And His Band Duo In B Minor For Harmon-Muted Trumpet And Bass Guitar 4:38
1004. Ian Carr And His Band Quintet In A 11:23
1005. Ian Carr And His Band Introduction: Ian Carr 0:18
1006. Ian Carr And His Band Duo For Trumpet And Soprano Saxophone 3:04
1007. Ian Carr And His Band Trio In D For Flugelhorn, Guitar And Bass Guitar 5:27
1008. Ian Carr And His Band Introduction: Ian Carr 0:17
1009. Ian Carr And His Band Duo In Fast Tempo For Cup-Muted Trumpet And Drums 4:14
1010. Ian Carr And His Band Duo For Straight Muted Trumpet And Guitar 4:33
1011. Ian Carr And His Band Duo For Open Trumpet And Tenor Saxophone 4:17
1012. Ian Carr And His Band Introduction: Ian Carr 0:24
1013. Ian Carr And His Band Old Heartland 12:25
1014. Ian Carr And His Band Outro: Unknown Announcer 0:32
BBC Radio 2 Jazz Parade, 7 November 1991
1101. The Ian Carr Group Introduction: Digby Fairweather 1:01
1102. The Ian Carr Group Uncertain Seduction 8:52
1103. The Ian Carr Group Introduction: Digby Fairweather 0:58
1104. The Ian Carr Group Full Fathom Five 4:32
1105. The Ian Carr Group Introduction: Digby Fairweather 0:29
1106. The Ian Carr Group Pandemonium 13:27
1107. The Ian Carr Group Outro: Digby Fairweather 0:35
BBC .Radio 2 Sounds Of Jazz, 22 February 1987
1201. Ian Carr's Nucleus Dawn Choruses 12:56
1202. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Ian Carr 0:40
1203. Ian Carr's Nucleus For Miles And Miles 13:33
1204. Ian Carr's Nucleus You Can’t Be Serious You Must Be Joking 8:42
1205. Ian Carr's Nucleus Easy Does It Now 10:55
BBC Radio 2 Sounds Of Jazz, 7 January 1979
1301. Ian Carr's Nucleus Gone With The Weed 5:59
1302. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Peter Clayton 1:12
1303. Ian Carr's Nucleus Out Of The Long Dark 8:17
1304. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Peter Clayton 0:59
1305. Ian Carr's Nucleus Lady Bountiful 12:03
1306. Ian Carr's Nucleus Outro: Peter Clayton 0:14
BBC Radio 2 Sounds Of Jazz, 7 December 1980
1307. Ian Carr's Nucleus Mutatis Mutandis 8:20
1308. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Peter Clayton 0:54
1309. Ian Carr's Nucleus Things Past 11:32
1310. Ian Carr's Nucleus Introduction: Peter Clayton 1:00
1311. Ian Carr's Nucleus You Can’t Be Serious, You Must Be Joking 7:27
1312. Ian Carr's Nucleus Outro: Peter Clayton 0:21
Ian Carr: Trumpet,Flugelhorn, Electric Piano,Electronics
Bob Bertles: Alto Saxophone, Saxophone, Flute
Karl Jenkins: Bairitone Saxophone, Oboe, Piano
Geoff Castle: Electric Piano, Synthesizer, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Piano.
Brian Smith: Flute, Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Flute.
Phil Todd: Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Flute.
Tim Whitehead: Saxophone, Flute, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone
Charlie Mariano: Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Nadaswaram
Bill Kristian: Bass
Chucho Merchan: Bass
Dill Katz: Bass
Jeff Clyne: Bass
Joe Hubbard: Bass
Paul Carmichael: Bass
Robbie Burns: Bass
Roger Sutton: Bass
Roy Babbington: Bass
John Marshall: Drums
Nic France: Drums
Roger Sellers: Drums
Dave MacRae: Electric Piano
Allan Holdsworth: Guita
Chris Spedding: Guitar, Vocals
John Etheridge: Guitar
Kenny Shaw: Guitar
Mark Wood: Guitar
John Taylor: Piano
Norma Winstone: Vocals
Formed by trumpeter and future Miles Davis biographer Ian Carr, Nucleus were a distinctly British jazz-rock group forged in the musical village-like cauldron of London at the end of the 60s. Within its first year alone (1970), Nucleus had caused a sensation at both the Montreux and Newport jazz festivals, and had recorded two albums (the first of nine for progressive-rock label Vertigo) and a torrent of sessions and concerts for the BBC, from John Peel’s Top Gear and Sounds of the 70s on Radio 1 to Jazz in Britain on Radio 3. Curated by John McLaughlin biographer Colin Harper and mastered by the mighty Eroc – the same team responsible for Repertoire’s acclaimed Colosseum and Pretty Things BBC sets – Nucleus Live At The BBC boasts nearly 15 hours of material spanning 1970-91. Almost four hours of that content documents the legendary founding line-up, featuring Chris Spedding (guitar), Karl Jenkins (keys, oboe), Brian Smith (saxes), Jeff Clyne (bass) and John Marshall (drums). The set is annotated by Ian Carr discographer/Jazz Journal contributor Roger Farbey. Aside from The Pretty Redhead (Hux, 2003), this is the first collection of BBC Nucleus and is assembled from numerous private collections and the BBC itself.
Over 14 hours of music expertly remastered and restored by Eroc, collated from such seminal shows as Top Gear, Sounds of the 70s and Jazz in Britain
"NUCLEUS was a band widely known for their direct approach to jazz."
(From the 36-page booklet to Live At The BBC)
But Repertoire Records really got down to it again and helped one of the most successful jazz-rock bands from Great Britain to high "live" honors with this box containing 13 CDs and a 36-page booklet.
For 20 years - from 1969 to 1989 - the NUCLEUS, founded by trumpeter and flugelhorn player IAN CARR, determinedwith their extremely impressive fusion jazz scene, which was still extremely successful and widespread at the time, from which WEATHER REPORT and MILES DAVIS, HERBIE HANCOCK and CHICK COREA, SOFT MACHINE and BRAND X stood out and placed themselves in the perfection of their own playing and the well-known musicians around Ian Carr (CHRIS SPEDDING, KARL JENKINS, JOHN MARSHALL, ALLAN HOLDSWORTH and many more) join them on an equal footing. They were sure to be met with storms of enthusiasm and a lot of recognition, and they were treated as a major competitor to MILES DAVIS. Because at exactly the same time in 1970, he had released "Bitches Brew", an album that introduced and at the same time revolutionized the entire progressive jazz rock scene. NUCLEUScountered this work of the century with their debut "Elastic Rock" with an LP that appeared in a very similar light and, despite the rather simple album title, enjoys a very similar status.
The UK public broadcaster, the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), quickly became aware of NUCLEUS and supported their participation in the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1970, giving British jazz rockers a lot of attention across Europe.
That collaboration grew into a long-term partnership, now fully reflected in this box set Live At The BBC, beginning with NUCLEUS' first 'BBC Radio Top Gear' performance presented by John Peel on March 7th, 1970 and their last on March 7th, 1970. November 1991 (albeit as THE IAN CARR GROUP) at the 'Jazz Parade'.
All the recordings were put together strictly chronologically up to the eleventh CD, i.e. the aforementioned jazz parade concert as THE IAN CARR GROUP. As a kind of bonus, CD 12 and 13 are an exception and present a total of three "Sounds Of Jazz" concert recordings from the years 1979, 1987 and 1991.
But NUCLEUS were also a band that was in constant flux and one line-up change around Ian Carr followed the next. On the one hand, of course, this resulted in an immense musical variety within the framework of their fusion jazz rock, but on the other hand it also pointed to some discrepancies. According to their website, "NUCLEUS performed to sold-out audiences at Electric Circus in Toronto and New York and became a hit with college-goers. Internal and musical feuds inevitably ensued, and the band broke up on the eve of a California tour that would have included their debut appearance at 'Whiskey a Go-Go'.”
Basically, most of the musicians in NUCLEUS came directly from the jazz and not the rock area, which gave their music a much more experimental, more jazz-oriented sound and was obviously much closer to the works of MILES DAVIS and HERBIE HANCOCK than many Rock bands of that time, who increasingly opened up their music to jazz and ended up in Canterbury, for example, regardless of whether it was CARAVAN or SOFT MACHINE and MATCHING MOLE.
The focus of all BBC live performances is of course trumpeter IAN CARR, but in the concert recordings really all the musicians involved - and there are a hell of a lot (almost as many as in a medium-sized orchestra!) - get plenty of opportunity, also as a soloist to excel on their instruments.
At the same time, the fact that many titles clearly exceed 10 minutes, even 20 minutes and sometimes even scratch the 30-minute mark, speaks for the complexity of all recordings and the corresponding freedom within the individual pieces, such as "The Dream" and "Open Country".
Carr himself spoke of a pluralistic concept in the context of his musical orientation of NUCLEUS , in which concretely composed passages stood next to improvised passages, as well as tonal and free sounds combined.
After more than 20 years, hardly anyone would have dared to dream that NUCLEUS , who released a total of 10 studio albums under the British record label Vertigo, which is largely influenced by progressive rock, would one day release such an extensive, high-quality 13-CD box set full of BBC footage is released. In addition, this box features a great soundscape, with more than 13 hours of music expertly remastered and restored
by EROC, the musical GROBSCHNITTer, who will certainly also have a very intimate relationship with NUCLEUS as a musician.
In addition to the music, the hardcover box, in which the 13 discs are packed in cardboard slipcases of the same design, contains a large number of interviews and announcements or announcements from BBC radio programs that were broadcast between 1970 and 1991. The additional 36-page booklet contains the complete NUCLEUS story, narrated by Roger Farbey plus an addendum by Colin Harper, as well as detailed information on all recordings and lots of previously unpublished photos.
CONCLUSION: In the course of their 20-year existence from 1969 to 1989, they have long since become a legend of British jazz rock, one of the first and at the same time most successful bands under the leadership of trumpeter and later Miles Davis biographer IAN CARR parallel to MILES DAVIS' "Bitches Brew" created a fascinating, very innovative fusion of jazz and rock: NUCLEUS . With " Live At The BBC - 13-CD-Box " a dream will surely come true for many lovers of this legend, because now the NUCLEUS story continues on a live basis and at the same time finds this huge box with a 36-page booklet her glorious end. Aside from The Pretty Redhead (Hux, 2003), this is NUCLEUS ' first collection-BBC recordings compiled from numerous private collections and those of the BBC itself. Thanks to EROC, most of the recordings are also an absolute feast for the ears in terms of sound technology. More is not possible!
While general interest in Soft Machine continued long after the seminal British jazz/rock group disbanded, the spotlight on trumpeter Ian Carr's Nucleus seemed to go dark following the band's breakup in the early 1980s. With the reissues of the group's back catalogue that have come out in recent years, that spotlight is back on, reminding listeners that Nucleus was just as seminal a jazz/rock outfit. Hemispheres is the first archival live release to feature the original lineup from Nucleus' first three discs on the Vertigo label—Elastic Rock (1970), We'll Talk About It Later (1971) and Solar Plexus (1971).
The original lineup was the only one to last for any extended period of time, and consequently it exhibited a more distinctive collective sound than later incarnations. Hemispheres includes short performances from March 1970 and February 1971, positioning Nucleus as a considerably looser improvisational unit than the group's studio albums would suggest. Unlike Soft Machine, which primarily came to jazz from a rock background, Nucleus was a collective of mostly jazz-reared musicians who migrated towards rock's powerful rhythms.
In concert, Nucleus may have worked within a structured framework, but the group was also considerably freer than in the studio. The 1970 set opens with the previously unreleased "Cosa Nostra. What starts as a rubato fanfare quickly evolves into a solo spot for Carr which, bolstered by bassist Jeff Clyne and drummer John Marshall, swings in ways that Soft Machine never could. Listening to electric pianist Karl Jenkins' harmonically ambiguous modal accompaniment, it's hard to believe this is the same Karl Jenkins who would, a few years later, reinvent Soft Machine as a riff-based and guitar-centric fusion band.
The majority of the 1970 set is culled from Elastic Rock. Guitarist Chris Spedding ultimately became a rock gun-for-hire, but here he's the perfect middle ground between the energy of rock and the vernacular of jazz. While he's not as adept as John McLaughlin, there are times when his jagged rhythm work recalls McLaughlin's Extrapolation (Polydor, 1969), especially during Jenkins' oboe solo on "Twisted Track.
Carr is, as always, a strong player with a rich middle-register tone. Comparisons to Miles Davis are inevitable. Still, at this point, Miles was doing everything he could to divorce himself from the jazz tradition. Carr, like Spedding, was looking for—and finding—an exciting middle ground.
The biggest surprise of Hemispheres is saxophonist Brian Smith, who opens up on the otherwise laconic "Elastic Rock in ways he never did in the studio. His powerful solos on the high-energy "Tangent and surprisingly freewheeling "1916 are equally unexpected.
Hemispheres offers evidence that sometimes a band is best heard live. Carr was recently recognized with the BBC Services to Jazz in the UK Award; hopefully more archival recordings can be located and released so that Nucleus' historical significance can be realized by more listeners outside the UK...
A rare Hux label release that is not from a BBC tapes sources, Hemispheres combines two excellent quality recordings from 70 and 71 throughout Europe, but unfortunately it doesn't state from which gigs or date they actually are from. Nevertheless this disc is an excellent companion to the first two studio releases and the BBC Pretty Redhead release and predates the excellent Live In Bremen album from Cuneiform, since Chris Spedding had left for that date and is present here.
As with most jazz-rock groups, live recordings are often worthy of acquiring because of different versions, but Hemisphere delivers slightly more than that. It has two never studio recorded tracks (the opening Cosa Nostra and the title track) but it also contains a rare cover track: indeed Twisted Track is a piece that was an original Battered Ornaments tracks (young guitarist Spedding's former band having the famous Beat poet Pete Brown as a singer). For a Nucleus enthusiast, this would be enough to justify the price of acquisition, but for the casual fan, it might be a bit different, depending on what album you already own.
As for the differing versions, much to one's surprise, most of them are a bit quieter/calmer than their original versions (especially in my fave We'll Talk About It Later where Jenkins' organ is absent, since they didn't use one on tour), which does not make them any less worthy. Two noteworthy exceptions are the start of 1916 and its closing section Persephone Jives. Another good reason to get this album is the improvs of the group as some of these tracks just segue into their successor without repeating the former theme, because the improvs had simply taken the music there.
As I said above, whether this album will be essential to you depends on what you already own, but for an unconditional fan, Hemispheres belongs on your shelves.
101. Song For The bearded Lady (9:27) 102. By The Pool (12:58) 103. Kookie And The Zoom Club (17:01) 104. Torrid Zone (9:05) 105. Zoom Out (2:16)
201. Snakehips Dream (13:40) 202. Oasis/Money Mad (8:50) 203. Dortmund Backtrack (7:20) 204. Bremen Dreams (2:26) 205. Elastic Rock (8:33) 206. A Bit For Vic (5:20) 207. Persephone's Jive (1:18)
- Ian Carr / trumpet, flugelhorn - Karl Jenkins / electric piano, oboe, piano, baritone saxophone - Brian Smith / tenor & soprano saxes, flute - Ray Russell / guitars - Roy Babbington / bass, electric bass - John Marshall / drums, percussion
Released by Cuneiform in 2003 cat # Rune 173/174
Though hard to believe these days, "fusion" was lauded early in its history as fresh, innovative and a potential economic savior for a slumping industry. But the freshness quickly wore off; innovation gave way to derivative technical exercises; and the sales balm was only temporary.
But in its nascent stages, creative groups were eager to experiment with the quickly burgeoning rock scene. Across the pond, a little known group called Nucleus was creating its own distinct brand of fusion which, at least for a few albums, confirmed the excitement the genre was causing.
Cuneiform has raided the vaults of Radio Bremen to serve up a live two-disc set. The original lineup of Ian Carr (trumpet), Karl Jenkins (oboe, Hohner), Brian Smith (reeds) and John Marshall (drums) had changed for this tour as bassist Roy Babbington replaces Jeff Clyne and guitarist Ray Russell deps for Chris Spedding.
The complete concert, recorded in May 1971, ably demonstrates what set Nucleus apart from later poorer fusion groups (including its own reincarnations). The stronger element comes from jazz and improvisations are group-based, rather than solos over vamps. The material is drawn from the first two albums but also includes several group pieces, ostensibly improvs formed on stage and worked out over the course of a tour. Nucleus did not do everything at one pace or volume. For every bass-driven number (Jenkins' "Song for The Bearded Lady"), a quiet reflective piece featuring Smith’s flute would follow. Moments of free improvisation begin songs and much looser group interplay recalls Miles Davis (Carr gave up music to write the definitive books on Miles Davis and British jazz), and Soft Machine (Jenkins, Babbington and Marshall would all go on to join that group).
The wild card is Ray Russell. Before recording bad fusion in the late '70s, he was a mysterious guitarist who at his best played the most ridiculously atonal and harsh lines ever recorded. It is a wonder then how well he fits with the group for this, his one tour, and how comfortable he is taking a starring role on jazz-, blues- and prog-influenced tunes. His contributions, coupled with the long modal trumpet work of Carr, floats Nucleus to the level of many of their higher-profile American counterparts.
These recordings were taken as Nucleus was still in its prime although Chris Spedding had left and Jeff Clyne also, only to be replaced by Ray Russel and Roy Babbington! The only recorded live traces of Spedding with Nucleus can be found in the BBC recordings that are named The Pretty Redhead released by Hux label a few months after this album in 2003. The superb thing about this package is that only a few tracks are from studio albums, the rest apparently being composition that will not find their way in succeeding records either. Songs For The Bearded Lady and Torrid Zone as well as Elastik Rock are only slightly elongated and Snakehip Dream is actually shorter than the studio version. Superb long tracks such as By The Pool and Kookie At The Zoom Club (where this was recorded) are obviously improvisations, but are they incredibly tight! Even with Russel not at Spedding's level, he manages to come out unscathed from those sessions.
On the second disc, Oasis/Money Mad is clearly a great moment, just after the Snakehip Dream (the major work on Solar Plexus) is a superb start but the rest are not as high standard (Elastic Rock excepted). This is maybe where that halfstar is lost, IMHO! But still well worth the investigation and the investment!
Gotta give Steve F. and the Cuneiform label a lot of credit for digging this one up. A double live album from one of Jazz / Fusion's pioneers. This was recorded at the Gondel Filmkunsttheater, Bremen, Germany on May 25th,1971 by "Radio Bremen". Ian Carr on trumpet, flugelhorn and percussion, Brian Smith on sax, flute and percussion and Ray Russell on guitar, for this tour only by the way. Then three future SOFT MACHINE members fill out the linep in Karl Jenkins on aboe and electric piano, John Marshall on drums and Roy Babbington on bass. This sounds excellent and I have to say that Ray Russell who does not appear on a single NUCLEUS studio album really adds a lot to this album with some fiery solos. This was recorded after they had released their third studio album ("Solar Plexus"). I have to say that this is one of the best live Jazz / Fusion albums I have ever heard, in fact one of the best live albums period. I love the two band photos that were provided by John Marshall.
Things get started with "Song For The Bearded Lady" which is from the "We'll Talk About It Later" record. It sounds like they're warming up early as sounds come and go with no real melody. When it kicks in though around 1 1/2 minutes it pure joy for me. It settles after 4 minutes and the rhythm becomes infectious as the trumpet plays over top. Check out the guitar before 6 1/2 minutes as Ray lights it up when the trumpet stops. Carr's back to end it. "By The Pool" opens with strummed guitar and flute. I really like this tranquil sound. Drums and cymbals join in. Sax before 8 minutes then it calms right down. It's building until it settles down to end it. "Kookie And The Zoom Club" has such a good rhythm when it kicks in.Trumpet plays over top. It's like Marshall is holding himself back here. Guitar comes in around 5 minutes sounding incredible.This is great ! He's playing these almost angular melodies until he starts to rip it up. A big applause when he's finished. Electric piano and horns replace guitar as it builds. The guitar is back briefly 12 minutes in then the tempo picks up then it calms back down. "Torrid Zone" is from "Elastic Rock". Bass and light drums to open as trumpet joins in. Just a beautiful sound here. Flute 3 minutes in followed by some intricate guitar. Great sound 6 minutes in as it gets more intense. It blends into "Zoom Out" a short Russell composition to end the first disc.
Disc two begins with "Snakeships' Dream" from "Solar Plexus". Aboe and other sounds come and go early. Some dissonance 1 1/2 minutes in until we get the main melody a minute later. This sounds amazing ! The guitar takes the lead after 7 minutes in this groovy and relaxing track. It blends into "Oasis" from "We'll Talk About It Later". Just a great sounding tune. So much going on after 4 1/2 minutes then it settles before getting intense again after 7 minutes. It settles and blends into "Dortmund Backtrack". Love the intricate sounds that come and go here. Some applause when the horns stop. Guitar takes over and he's lighting it up after 5 minutes. It settles a minute later and eventually blends into "Bremen Dreams" a short trumpet led tune. It blends into "Elastic Rock" from the album of the same name. Bass, light drums and trumpet before the guitar joins in. An applause when Carr stops after 3 minutes. Sax takes over and Brian gets an applause when he stops too. It's chaotic late. "A Bit For Vic" is a drum solo from John Marshall. "Persephone's Jive" is the closing track and it's from the album "Elastic Rock". They all pretty much let loose on this short song.
Another valuable piece of history for my collection.
