A rare live date from Ian Carr's Nucleus – the jamming jazz-rock combo we mostly only know from their studio sides! The sound here is a lot more freewheeling than the group's work on Vertigo from the same period – a bit more outside at times, with plenty of room for the combo to not only jam, but also open up into some more exploratory ideas. A few moments are surprisingly gentle, while others are full-on and extremely powerful – a heady fusion of Carr's trumpet and flugelhorn with the keyboards of Karl Jenkins, saxes of Brian Smith, guitar of Ray Russell, bass of Roy Babbington, and drums of John Marshall. 2CD set features a well-recorded performance originally captured by Radio Bremen – with 12 tracks that include "Zoom Out", "Torrid Zone", "Song For The Bearded Lady", "By The Pool", "A Bit For Vic", "Persephone's Jive", and "Elastic Rock". CD

A really wonderful step for UK jazzman Mike Gibbs – a musician who was part of the same big wave of late 60s creative talent that included Mike Westbrook and John Surman – but who really finds his own voice here on this album for the Bronze label! For years, there was a real dancing between UK avant jazz musicians, and some of the more jazz-oriented prog rockers – a mode heard especially on some of the Vertigo albums, such as work by Nucleus. But Gibbs sidesteps that moment beautifully, but really keeping things in a jazz perspective, but allowing in musicians who'd also drunk heavily of some of the electric brew – a core group here that includes Cahrlie Mariano on reeds, Philip Catherine on guitar, Steve Swallow on bass, Bob Moses on drums, Jumma Santos on percussion, and Gibbs himself on keyboards. Mariano and Catherine have an especially great sound here – more focus than on some other records, thanks to Gibbs' great writing and arrangements – and there's also a larger group of like-minded musicians on deck, including Derek Watkins and Kenny Wheeler on trumpet, Chris Pyne on trombone, Henry Lowther on flugelhorn, Ray Warleigh on alto, Alan Skidmore on tenor, and Tony Cole on tenor and bass clarinet – almost enough talent to make for one of those famous Lansdowne Studios sessions. The tunes are awash in color – some of Mike's best writing ever – and include "Tunnel Of Love", "Antique", "Undergrowth", and "Blackgang". CD

Change is certainly in the air for the famous group of tenorist Don Rendell and trumpeter Ian Carr – partly because this final set has some slight shifts in personnel, and partly because a few elements point the way towards new directions that Carr would take in the 70s! The core energy of the group is still beautifully intact – and most tunes still feature strong piano work from Michael Garrick, alongside the fantastic drums of Trevor Tompkins and bass of Dave Green – but there's also a point when Jeff Clyne comes in for a second bass, Guy Warren adds some percussion, and Stan Robinson brings in both added tenor and clarinet! None of the music is as electric as Carr's later Nucleus group, but you can definitely hear the door opening for new ideas – while the duo still continue that fantastic blend of modern moments and soulful swing that mark their seminal late 60s albums in the Lansdowne Series. Titles include "Elastic Dream", "Boy Dog & Carrot", "One Green Eye", "Cold Mountain", and "Black Hair". CD