Mr Bongo reissues Ian Carr’s iconic 1972 jazz-fusion album ‘Belladonna’

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Mr Bongo reissues Ian Carr’s iconic 1972 jazz-fusion album ‘Belladonna’

UK-based record shop and label Mr Bongo have recently reissued a half-speed mastered edition of the iconic 1972 jazz-rock-fusion album Belladonna from British trumpeter great Ian Carr. This groundbreaking recording was a part of Carr’s adventurous shift in sound following a number of years during the late 60s performing and recording with the legendary post-hard bop ensemble, The Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet.

This incredible six-track session features some of the best UK jazz musicians of the 70’s, including members from such notable groups as Nucleus, Brian Auger’s band, Soft Machine, Stan Tracy group. Some of the players included Brian Smith (tenor and soprano saxophones, alto and bamboo flutes), guitar great Allan Holdsworth, Dave MacRae (Fender electric piano), bassist Roy Babbington and others.

Over the course of the album, which takes the listener on a sonic journey through many different moods and sounds, blends together cosmic jazz, prog-rock, dark hypnotic cinematic tones, soaring horn melodies, and funk grooves. The music has a similar vibe as some of the other classic jazz-fusion albums of this era, like Miles Davis In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew, Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi, and Soft Machine’s 1970 jazz-rock gem Third.

With original copies now going for $200-300, it’s great to see this jazz-fusion masterpiece receive an official reissue.