Jazz Articles about Ron Carter

like 411

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 ...

like 305

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 ...

like 433

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 ...

like 462

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 ...

like 209

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 ...

like 391

Antonio Carlos Jobim: Stone Flower

by David Rickert
May 6, 2002

Jobim has been described as the Gershwin of Brazilian music, which is an apt title for a man who contributed so many original songs to the jazz repertoire, adding a few standards along the way. Those who were inspired to follow his work after “The Girl From Ipanema” may have picked up Wave, his most well-known solo record, but may have overlooked Stone Flower, a markedly better effort. The drippy strings on the former record brought out the quiet romanticism ...

like 110

The Gotham Jazz Orchestra: Thought Trains

by Jack Bowers
May 1, 2002

One assumes instinctively that a big–band album named Thought Trains isn’t likely to include such time–worn staples as “Moten Swing” or “One O’Clock Jump.” That’s definitely true of this one, even though it does receive a “jump start” from Mike Holober’s rhythmically vibrant composition, “Jump Down, Spin Around.” All of the compositions / arrangements are Holober’s, and while they may not awaken memories of the Swing Era they surely do swing, which is among the most meaningful components in any ...