Don Rendell, Ian Carr

*2026 repress* Endless Happiness is delighted to present a reissue of Phase III, the seminal 1968 album by The Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet. Widely regarded as a landmark in British modern jazz, this album captures the quintet at the height of their creative powers, offering a bold and original vision that continues to resonate with listeners today.

Originally recorded at Lansdowne Studios, London, in February 1967, Phase III showcases the Quintet’s distinctive blend of adventurous compositions, innovative arrangements, and masterful improvisation. The lineup features Don Rendell (tenor and soprano saxophones, flute), Ian Carr (trumpet, flugelhorn), Michael Garrick (piano), Dave Green (bass), and Trevor Tomkin (drums). The album is celebrated for its unique British character, literary allusions, and departure from jazz convention, charting a course all its own.

Highlights of Phase III include the dynamic “Crazy Jane,” the springy “On!,” the contemplative “Les Neiges D’Antan,” and the evocative “Bath Sheba,” along with Michael Garrick’s “Black Marigolds.” Each track reveals the Quintet’s ability to balance structure and spontaneity, with Ian Carr’s trumpet and Don Rendell’s reeds leading the way through a landscape of shifting moods and textures.