About Me
Self-taught on piano, Mike first gained national recognition as a member of EmCee Five (1960-62), a band he formed with his brother Ian Carr in which Mike played piano and vibraphone. Popular in the Newcastle area, they made a highly praised EP. They were not revivalists but played the contemporary jazz of the early '60s, showing that UK jazz existed outside London, and very good jazz at that. From 1963 to 1965 he worked in Africa, after which he played organ in the Nighttimers, a group led by the singer Herbie Goins. He performed frequently at Ronnie Scott's, principally as an organist (1966-7), and later toured extensively with Scott's trio (1971-5), making an appearance at Carnegie Hall, New York (1974) and a week-long engagement at Buddy Rich's club. He also visited several European countries with his own quartet (1975-7) In the late 1970s and 1980s Carr continued to work with his own ensembles, and also accompanied many distinguished soloists. After forming a jazz-rock group, Cargo, in 1980, he began to concentrate on producing and recording as well as performing and writing.Mike has also been involved in commercial music recording in partnership with Robert Ahwai - Ahwai Carr Productions. Their most notable commercials include Lean on Me for the Bank of Ireland with a 'Bill Withers' vocal and a 'Nat King Cole' version of Stay Sweet As You Are for Oil of Ulay. Mike has led trios with such artists as John McLaughlin, Dick Morrissey, Jim Mullen, Tony Coe, Pete King and Bobby Gien. Among the many American artists he has worked with are Coleman Hawkins, Don Byas, Buddy Tate, Dizzy Gillespie, Illinois Jacquet, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Art Taylor, Kenny Clarke, Johnny Griffin, Jimmy Witherspoon, Art Farmer, Buddy De Franco and Sonny Payne. He has toured extensively, playing on the international stage in countries such as the USA, Australia, South Africa, Mozambique, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Holland and Belgium where he has recently been conducting keyboard and vibraphone masterclasses. On 20th July 1998 The Mike Carr Quartet appeared with vocalist Irene Reid at a unique concert in France in Le Jardin du Jazz at the 9th Bayonne Jazz Festival. Apart from Mike on organ, the rest of the Quartet consisted of Andy Panayi - flutes and saxophones, Dave Cliff - guitar and Steve Brown - drums. Whilst playing the festival Mike's Quartet were joined on stage by a longterm fan, the American trumpet great, Brian Lynch who joined the band onstage for a blistering rendition of the Gary Cox hardbop instrumental Lefty's Tune.In early July 1998 Mike arranged two weeks in South Africa with ex Count Basie Singer Irene Reid, and Michael Outram on Guitar. They played at the Grahamstown Jazz Festival opposite Herbie Mann for a week, with a great African Drummer whose name escapes me at present,followed by a week in Capetown at the Green Dolphin Restaurent on the fore Shore and they received wonderfull Reviews. Morris Gawronsky was the Drummer. On return to London the played at Statley Home BLICKLING HALL near Norwich , the band was Dave Cliff Guitar, Andy Panayi Tenor Sax and Flute, Steve Brown Drums, the following day they flew to France for the Festival in Bayonne. I will try to find out the name of the drummer in Grahamstown.
