View basket “Man Child” has been added to your basket. Roots Ian Carr’s Nucleus SKU: BEWITH102LP Barcode: 4251804125376 22.00 £22.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Be With Records Released Date: 5th November 2021 Buying Format: 1LP Out of stock Back Order Add to your Wishlist Description Product Info What an unbelievable record. From the wild cover to the iconic breakbeats, Roots from Ian Carr’s Nucleus is one of the dopest albums we know. This is seriously thick, funky-prog jazz-rock heaven. Originally released on Vertigo in 1973, other than a couple of versions at the time for other territories, Roots was never re-pressed since so it’s gone on to become another one of those impossible to find records. Maybe it was a little too out there for the time, but it’s aged very, very well indeed and this Be With re-issue, re-mastered from the original analogue tapes, shows off just why this deserves to be back in press. Genius trumpeter and visionary composer Ian Carr was one of the most respected British musicians of his era. He was a true pioneer and saw the potential in fusing the worlds of jazz with rock, just as Miles Davis and The Tony Williams Lifetime did in the US. In late 1969, following the demise of the Rendell-Carr quintet, and tiring of British jazz, Carr assembled the legendary Nucleus. Regarding music as a continuous process, Nucleus refused to “recognise rigid boundaries” and worked on delivering what they saw as a “total musical experience”. We can get behind that. Under bandleader Carr, Nucleus existed as a fluid line-up of inventive, skilled musicians. This constant evolution and revolution was all part of the continuous musical exploration and discovery that took jazz to new levels. Working together with producer Fritz Fryer and engineer Roger Wake, the seven compositions by Carr, Brian Smith and Dave MacRae that make up Roots flirt 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 Pitchen on guitar, Roger Sutton on bass, both Clive Thacker and Aureo De Souza on drums and percussion, Joy Yates delivering the vocals and of course Carr on trumpet. The spellbinding title track immediately renders the album indispensable. Riding the illest of loping breakbeats, “Roots” is low-slung, doped-out heist-funk. An absolute monster. If it sounds familiar then that’s likely down to it being sampled by Madlib for Lootpack and Quasimoto’s “Loop Digga”, as well as by a whole host of beat manipulators. “Roots” conjures prime instrumental hip-hop / beat music, only 20 years ahead of its time. Truly, these are the roots. Through sinuous bass, twinkling keys and a hypnotic guitar riff, a smoky brass motif weaves its way into a gloriously deep haze around Carr’s solos. “Roots” is over 9 minutes long, but there’s not a single wasted second, not surprising given that this is a condensed version of an originally 40 minute long commissioned composition. 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 celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday it stands up on its own, all robust rhythms and blended brass. Keyboard colour and Carr’s trumpet are splashed across the funk drums and basslines (and there’s even some bamboo flute). This really is fusion: the elements of jazz and rock coming together in beautifully synthesis. Side two opens in riotous fashion 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 that Black Sabbath would’ve envied, “Odokamona” is a venomous slice of riff-soaked jazz metal (yes, you read that right), elevated by Carr’s wah-wah horns. The album closes with MacRae’s exceptionally cosmic “Southern Roots and Celebration”. Very much in conversation with Weather 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. It’s another sure-fire party starter and the sound of the band having a righteous blast, building an ecstatic chaos that ends with Yates screaming. And of course we need to talk about Keith Davis’ cover for Roots. Perhaps the coolest record cover of all time? Certainly one of the most bonkers. Just your run-of-the-mill high-gloss, acid-tinged airbrush dystopian/utopian living-room party scene. Consider this your chemical flashback trigger warning. Front-and-centre the hip-to-death green robot holds court with their giant ball of yellow barbwire wool, hooked up to… something(?) being teased out from under the stairs (probably best not to ask). A thoroughly zoned-out, long-legged Pop Art party-goer lounges half-plugged in to the painting behind her as a pair of legs flail into shot from the the top of the stairs opposite. We won’t even begin to guess what the chap’s up to in the middle, but the view out of the windows is rather nice, and someone’s already got the hoover out ready to tidy up. All of the Nucleus sleeves are something special, but this particular one? Crikey. This Be With edition of Roots has been re-mastered from the original Vertigo master tapes, Simon Francis’ mastering working together with Pete Norman’s cut to weave their usual magic with these wonderful recordings. The crazy cover has been restored at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue. Artist Ian Carr’s Nucleus Genre Jazz Label Be With Records Buying Options 1LP Format 1LP Condition New Country UK Track Listings Roots Images Caliban Whapatiti Capricorn Odokamona Southern Roots And Celebration Share this On Facebook On Twitter Via Email More from Jazz View Product Quick View Miles Davis Quintet Steamin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet Jazz | Craft Recordings | 1LP Released 24th November 2023 £26.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Miles Davis Quintet Steamin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet £26.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Craft Recordings SKU: 1863911 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 24th November 2023 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Sun Ra And His Mythic Science Arkestra The Paris Tapes (Live 1971) Jazz | Kindred Spirits | 1LP Released 30th September 2010 £12.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Sun Ra And His Mythic Science Arkestra The Paris Tapes (Live 1971) £12.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Kindred Spirits SKU: KSAY6NLP Formats: 1LP Released Date: 30th September 2010 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Wolfgang Haffner Silent World Jazz | ACT | 1LP Released 27th January 2023 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Wolfgang Haffner Silent World £23.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ACT SKU: ACTLP9963-1 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 27th January 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Chet Baker Chet Baker Sings: It Could Happen To You Jazz | Craft Recordings | 180g, 1LP Released 5th March 2021 £30.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Chet Baker Chet Baker Sings: It Could Happen To You £30.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Craft Recordings SKU: 07219753 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 5th March 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Sarah Vaughan Essential Works 1944 – 1962 Jazz | Diggers Factory | 2LP Released 22nd October 2021 £26.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Sarah Vaughan Essential Works 1944 – 1962 £26.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Diggers Factory SKU: MOJ121 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 22nd October 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Ron Carter featuring Eric Dolphy & Mal Waldron Where? Jazz | Craft Recordings | 180g, 1LP Released 29th March 2024 £35.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Ron Carter featuring Eric Dolphy & Mal Waldron Where? £35.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Craft Recordings SKU: 7255548 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 29th March 2024 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Tord Gustavsen, Simin Tander, Jarle Vespestad What Was Said Jazz | ECM | 180g, 1LP Released 29th January 2016 £24.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Tord Gustavsen, Simin Tander, Jarle Vespestad What Was Said £24.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ECM SKU: 4766532 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 29th January 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers Africaine Jazz | Blue Note | 1LP Released 10th June 2009 £14.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers Africaine £14.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: LT1088 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 10th June 2009 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Gogo Penguin Ocean In A Drop Jazz | Blue Note | 10", EP/Mini Album Released 27th September 2019 £14.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Gogo Penguin Ocean In A Drop £14.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: 7788809 Formats: 10", EP/Mini Album Released Date: 27th September 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Charles Mingus The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady Jazz | Verve | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 23rd August 2019 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Charles Mingus The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Verve SKU: 7757373 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 23rd August 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders See more in Jazz Start again
View Product Quick View Miles Davis Quintet Steamin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet Jazz | Craft Recordings | 1LP Released 24th November 2023 £26.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Miles Davis Quintet Steamin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet £26.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Craft Recordings SKU: 1863911 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 24th November 2023 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View Sun Ra And His Mythic Science Arkestra The Paris Tapes (Live 1971) Jazz | Kindred Spirits | 1LP Released 30th September 2010 £12.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Sun Ra And His Mythic Science Arkestra The Paris Tapes (Live 1971) £12.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Kindred Spirits SKU: KSAY6NLP Formats: 1LP Released Date: 30th September 2010 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Wolfgang Haffner Silent World Jazz | ACT | 1LP Released 27th January 2023 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Wolfgang Haffner Silent World £23.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ACT SKU: ACTLP9963-1 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 27th January 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Chet Baker Chet Baker Sings: It Could Happen To You Jazz | Craft Recordings | 180g, 1LP Released 5th March 2021 £30.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Chet Baker Chet Baker Sings: It Could Happen To You £30.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Craft Recordings SKU: 07219753 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 5th March 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Sarah Vaughan Essential Works 1944 – 1962 Jazz | Diggers Factory | 2LP Released 22nd October 2021 £26.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Sarah Vaughan Essential Works 1944 – 1962 £26.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Diggers Factory SKU: MOJ121 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 22nd October 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Ron Carter featuring Eric Dolphy & Mal Waldron Where? Jazz | Craft Recordings | 180g, 1LP Released 29th March 2024 £35.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Ron Carter featuring Eric Dolphy & Mal Waldron Where? £35.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Craft Recordings SKU: 7255548 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 29th March 2024 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View Tord Gustavsen, Simin Tander, Jarle Vespestad What Was Said Jazz | ECM | 180g, 1LP Released 29th January 2016 £24.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Tord Gustavsen, Simin Tander, Jarle Vespestad What Was Said £24.00 Genre: Jazz Label: ECM SKU: 4766532 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 29th January 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers Africaine Jazz | Blue Note | 1LP Released 10th June 2009 £14.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers Africaine £14.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: LT1088 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 10th June 2009 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Gogo Penguin Ocean In A Drop Jazz | Blue Note | 10", EP/Mini Album Released 27th September 2019 £14.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Gogo Penguin Ocean In A Drop £14.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: 7788809 Formats: 10", EP/Mini Album Released Date: 27th September 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Charles Mingus The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady Jazz | Verve | 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 23rd August 2019 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Charles Mingus The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady £20.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Verve SKU: 7757373 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 23rd August 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders