Jazz Articles about Ron Carter

Seven Steps: The Complete Columbia Recordings, 1963-1964

by John Kelman
September 22, 2004

Eagerly anticipated, Seven Steps: The Complete Columbia Recordings of Miles Davis 1963-1964 documents the emergence of Miles' second great quintet, featuring saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams. It demonstrates, over the course of seven discs and seven hours, how critical each member of that quintet was. As the group coalesces over a period of two years it's tangible how everything falls into place, like a set of tumblers on a complicated lock.

Donald Harrison: Heroes

by John Kelman
May 11, 2004

Stripping down from his quintet début on Nagel Heyer, '02's Real Life Stories , saxophonist Donald Harrison teams up with bassist Ron Carter and drummer Billy Cobham, two of his personal heroes. Having an intermittent history with both musicians, Harrison obviously felt that the combination would provide the perfect combination of groove, freedom and exploration. The result is a mainstream set that purposefully raises the bar for Harrison, forcing him to think outside the box and deliver one of his ...

Ron Carter: The Golden Striker

by Franz A. Matzner
October 4, 2003

Most renowned—and in some ways unfairly so—for his tenure with the famed Miles Davis Quintet, Ron Carter has remained a renowned figure of jazz for so long that it is difficult to imagine a jazz fan who could be wholly unaware of his contributions to the evolution of the upright bass, as well as jazz music’s development as a whole. Considering his stature as premier bass instrumentalist, composer, and bandleader – with an output of over 2,000 albums! – it ...

Ron Carter: Stardust

by Michael Fortuna
June 25, 2003

In an ever-expanding career encompassing nearly 3000 projects, jazz bassist Ron Carter has surrounded himself with some of the best musicians. Carter's latest album, Stardust, continues that tradition. Joining Carter in the studio are Benny Golson on tenor sax, Joe Locke on vibraphone, Sir Roland Hanna on piano, and Lenny White on drums. This quintet delivers excellent performances of songs from Carter, George and Ira Gershwin, Hoagy Carmichael, and the late renowned jazz bassist Oscar Pettiford. Pettiford ...

Ron Carter: Stardust

by Javier AQ Ortiz
February 12, 2003

Quick and to the Point: Oscar Pettiford would’ve loved itï

The New Oscar Pettiford Sextet, a 1953 Leonard Feather production, featured Pettiford’s “Tamalpais Love Song.” Ron Carter –his own man when incorporating varying nuances of equal multiplicity of origins to his work– proves a manly man at the outset of Stardust. In “Tamalpais,” we find the first of three reinterpretations of Pettiford’s compositions. This interpretation is relaxed and mature with loads of class, elegance, insinuated exotic appeal and ...

Freddie Hubbard: Red Clay

by David Rickert
July 11, 2002

Like Stanley Turrentine, Freddie Hubbard's best work was always in the service of others until he signed with Creed Taylor's CTI label. He then released a trio of albums that represents his crowning achievement as a leader. Red Clay finds him in the company of Herbie Hancock, who played a large part in defining jazz fusion, as well as heavyweights like Ron Carter, Joe Henderson, and Lenny White. The title track kicks off the record with a funky ...

Ron Carter: Stardust

by Jim Santella
July 1, 2002

Ron Carter’s tribute to Oscar Pettiford features three of the late, great bassist’s compositions and an all-star lineup. As Pettiford loved to swing a beautiful melody, so do Carter and his teammates in this fluid affair. The leader’s deep respect for essential elements, such as intonation, tone quality and balance, remains focused at the heart of the matter. Elegance and genuine passion imbue the session with soul. Carter, Benny Golson, Joe Locke and Roland Hanna flirt with melody the way ...