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| Mike Carr... |
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Mike Carr, brother of trumpet player Ian Carr, was born in South Shields, Co Durham in1937. A self taught musician he played piano, organ and vibes. Following service in the RAF he returned to Newcastle in 1958 and played a part in the formation of the EmCee Five who became very successful in the North East of England from 1960 to 1963.Following this he worked in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa before settling in London around 1965. Now concentrating on organ he formed his own trio - (Ronnie Scott and Tony Crombie) in 1970 and worked with them in Portugal. Later he became a member of Ronnie Scott's trio and also played in a duo with Tony Crombie. He worked with Scott until 1975 when he began touring with US stars such as Sonny Payne, Kenny Clarke, Johnny Griffin, Illinois Jacquet, Buddy Tate and others. From the 1980s through to the 2000s he has led his own groups, run his own successful recording label and backed visiting US musicians including Coleman Hawkins, Don Byas, Johnny Griffin, Art Farmer, Buddy De Franco, Terry Gibbs and many others. In 2002 he created his Mike Carr's Blue Note Band as a tribute to his favourite label. He was widely regarded as probably the best jazz organist in the world but problems in his later personal life prevented him taking up many worldwide opportunities. His health began to deteriorate in 2011 and he died in September, 2017 at the age of 79. EmCee Five... | |
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EmCee Five - June, 1961 (Private recording made in Newcastle) Ian Carr (tp), Gary Cox (ts), Mike Carr (p), John O'Carrol (b), Ronnie Stephenson (d). Theme/Blowin' The Blues Away (3)/John O'Groats/Downbeat After Dark/The One That Got Away/Blue Sue/Lefty's Tune (1)(3)/Dobson's Choice (1)(2)/The Bridge (1)(2)/Blues For Monk(?) (2). EmCee Five - December 14th, 1961 (Let's take five - Columbia SEG8153) Ian Carr (tp), Gary Cox (ts), Mike Carr (p,vibes), Spike Heatley (b), Ronnie Stephenson (d). The One That Got Away (1)(2)/Stephenson's Rocket (1)(2)/Preludes* (1)(2). (*Acrobat CD - British Modern Jazz Singles, EP tracks & Rarities 1960 - 62) EmCee Five - October 15th, 1962 (Volume 1 - Alpha-International DB/92) Ian Carr (tp), Gary Cox (ts), Mike Carr (p,vibes), Midge Pike (b), Johnnie Butts (d). John O'Groats* (1)(3)/Northumbrian Air (Groovin' At The Downbeat) (1)(3)/Blues For Lou(?)(3)/Mikes Dilemma (1)(3)/Prayer To The East (GC out)(unissued). (*Acrobat CD - British Modern Jazz Singles, EP tracks & Rarities 1960 - 62) The EmCee Five did not record again for nearly four years and by then had become a trio without Ian Carr or Gary Cox... EmCee Five - 1966 (Birdland MC587) Mike Carr (p), Malcolm Cecil (b), Ronnie Stephenson (d). Cox's Pippin' (1). Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet - October 25th, 1965 (BBC Jazz Club) Ian Carr (tp,fl-hrn), Don Rendell (ts,sop), Michael Garrick (p), Mike Carr (org)*, Dave Green (b), Trevor Tomkins (d). Hot Rod/Ursula/Tan Samfu/Sailin'*/October Woman/The Sixth Seal*. , (*Rhythm and Blues Records CD - BBC Jazz Club Sessions 1965 - 1966 Vol II) Mike Carr Organ Trio October 14th, 1967 (Recorded live at the Ship Inn, Brighton - Jazz in Britain) Mike Carr (org), Harold McNair (as,f), Tony Crombie (d). Carr's Blues/Satin Doll/Autumn Leaves/ You Are Too Beautiful/Coronation Street/Blues After Dark. (Jazz in BritainCD - the Mike Carr Organ Trio featuring Harold McNair ) EmCee Five - 1967 (Birdland MC587) Gary Cox (ts), Mike Carr (org), John McLaughlin (g), Jackie Denton (d). Bells Blues (1). These EmCee Five recordings were issued on a number of LPs as detailed below: (1)Bebop from the East coast - Birdland MC587 (2)Bebop from the East coast - vol 1 (a 10" LP from Japan) - Birdland NLP013 (3)Bebop from the East coast - vol 2 (a 10" LP from Japan) - Birdland NLP014 (Birdland MC587 was issued in CD format by the Japanese Birdland/Celeste label in 1996. Titled "Bebop From The East Coast - 1960/62", it is long out of print but worth looking out for...) Mike Carr and Tony Crombie - 1968 (Hammond under pressure - Columbia SCX6248) Mike Carr (org), Tony Crombie (d). Lou's Place/Ode To Billy Joe/Willow Weep For Me/Summertime/Organ Grinder's Swing/Jose Outside/I'm Getting Sentimental Over You/My Bonnie's Awa' The Clyde/Coronation Street/The Tag. Ronnie Scott Trio - August 3rd and 4th, 1973 (RCA LPL15056, *Debut DEBX1) RCA LP titled "Scott at Ronnie's".....Debut titled "Jazz Special", rest of LP by others. Ronnie Scott (ts), Mike Carr (org), Bobby Gein (d), Loughty Amao (cga-1). Sombrero Sam(1)/Lou's Piece/The More I See You/Midnight Blue/P&O Blues*/What's New (unissued)/Here's That Rainy Day. Ronnie Scott Trio - Spring, 1974 (Recorded live at The White Hart, Ford) Ronnie Scott (ts), Mike Carr (org), Bobby Gein (d). 30 A Blues/What's New/Stella By Starlight/Angel Eyes/On A Clear Day/Lou's Piece. (Acrobat CD - On A Clear Day 1974) Mike Carr Trio - 1979 (Live At Ronnie Scott's - Spotlite SPJ517) Mike Carr (org,el-p,), Jim Mullen (el-g), Harold Smith (d,vcl). Claremont Avenue/Teach Me Tonight/Shaw 'Nuff/It's Impossible/Footloose. Irene Reid - April 19th, 1989 (The Lady from Savannah - Birdland MC589) Irene Reid (vcl) acc by: Dick Morrissey (ts), Mike Carr (org), Jim Mullen (g), Mark Taylor (d). I'm Walkin'/S'posin'/Dont Get Around Much Any More/Easy Living/Over the Rainbow/I Get A KickOut Of You/That Old Black Magic/Yes Sir! That's My Baby/Here's that Rainy Day/Blow Top Blues/That's The Way It Is/Million Dollar Secret/Alright, Okay, You Win. Mike Carr Quartet and Trio - March 31st, 1993 (Good Times & The Blues - Cargogold Productions) Mike Carr (org), Dick Morrissey (ts), Jim Mullen (el-g), Mark Taylor (d). Good Times*/Blues For Mr B.*/The One That Got Away*/Harlem Waltz (DM out)*/Battery Blues*/Mexican Samba*/Freedom Song*/Viva Victor (DM out)*/The Baron Of Bop*/Theme For Cliff*. (*Cargogold Productions CD - Good Times & The Blues) Mike Hanson Quartet - c1995/6 (Do you have a name? - Spotlite) Kevin Flanagan (ts), Mike Hanson (g), Mike Carr (org,p), Chris Dagley (d). What's Next*/My One And Only Love*/Alfredo* (*Spotlite CD - Do you have a name?) Mike Carr's Blue Note Band - August 5th and 6th, 2002 (Stevenson's Rocket - Birdland MC502) Steve Fishwick (tp), Steve Kalsestad (ts), Mike Carr (org,p,vib), Robert Ahwai (g), Matt Fishwick (d), Simon Morton (perc). Blues For Dizzy/In The Groove/Birdtime/Milt The Magnificent/Stevenson's Rocket/Trinidad/Lovely Summer's Day/Soul Sister/Tiny's Theme/Bird Dance/Lefty's Tune. (Birdland CD - Stevenson's Rocket) | |