The Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet

The Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet was an English post-bop five-piece of the mid-1960s. The quintet was co-headed by the band’s two namesakes — saxist/flutist Don Rendell (1926–2015) and trumpeter Ian Carr (1933–2009). Their BGO-issued first release, Shades of Blue (1964), is noted for its Bluenote-style cover art.

Members: Don Rendell (tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, clarinet), Ian Carr (trumpet, flugelhorn), Dave Green (bass), Trevor Tomkins (drums), Colin Purbrook (piano, 1964), Michael Garrick (piano, harpsichord, 1965-69)

As the project folded, Rendell and Carr teamed with pianist/composer Neil Ardley for the ambitious 1970 release Greek Variations & Other Aegean Exercises. The trumpeter subsequently formed Nucleus — alternately credited as Ian Carr’s Nucleus — which issued a string of electrified jazz albums throughout the 1970s.

Pianist Michael Garrick — already an established London jazz player at the time he joined Rendell / Carr — continued fronting ensembles of various configurations, most notably on the 1970 release The Heart Is a Lotus with vocalist Norma Winstone.

Discography:

• Shades of Blue (1964)
• Live in London (1965)
• Dusk Fire (1966)
• Phase III (1967)
• Live (1968)
• Change Is (1969)