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Reviews

Ian Carr — Belladonna
(Vertigo UICY-9267, 1972/2003, CD)

Ian Carr with Nucleus+ — Solar Plexus
(Vertigo UICY-9266, 1971/2003, CD)

by Jeff Melton, Published 2003-08-01

Belladonna Cover artSolar Plexus Cover art

Solar Plexus was the third and last Nucleus album from 1970 that boasted the original line-up including Karl Jenkins and John Marshall (later in Soft Machine). For this outing, the base six-piece line-up was augmented by two acclaimed horn players, Kenny Wheeler and Harry Beckett. This album comprised six tracks that range from sparse theme development to culminating with strong arrangements as on the album’s closer “Snakehips’ Dream.” One of the more notable tracks is “Bedrock Deadlock” where Jenkins’ oboe solo opens the piece over Chris Spedding’s effects-laden guitar before the brass section is introduced to great effect. Beckett’s flugelhorn solo that closes out “Spirit Level” is also one of the disc’s highlights. “Torso” is the most memorable piece on the disc with Brian Smith’s soprano sax solo atop a driving rhythm propelled jointly by Spedding and Marshall.

Alternately, Belladonna showcases a mostly different band a year and a half later with only leader Ian Carr and saxophonist, Brian Smith remaining. Bassist Roy Babbington and guitarist Allan Holdsworth have been added along with Clive Thacker on drums (from Brian Auger’s band). Trevor Tomkins (who most notably would play on the second Gilgamesh album and the excellent Before a Word Is Said) also adds percussion to three tracks. The album’s title track characterizes the work with excellent ensemble play. Keyboards are handled by Dave McRae (ex-Matching Mole) and Gordon Beck (which may be his only electric piano performance on record). The closing piece is a first glimpse at the finesse Holdsworth would later emphasize in several other groups (Tempest, Soft Machine, Gong, Bruford) as his SG solo comes literally out of nowhere to mop up the sound terrain! Overall these two albums in the group’s catalog go far to characterize the excellent UK jazz-rock scene in the early 70s.

Filed under: Reissues, Issue 27, 2003 releases, 1972 recordings, 1971 recordings

Related artist(s): Allan Holdsworth, Nucleus, Ian Carr, Kenny Wheeler, John Marshall

 

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