Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » James Carter: Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge

256

James Carter: Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge

By

Sign in to view read count
James Carter: Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge
In 2001, James Carter commanded soprano, tenor, and baritone saxophones on one of the most famous jazz stages in his Detroit hometown, leading keyboardists Gerald Gibbs and Kenn Cox, trumpeter Dwight Adams, bassist Ralphe Armstrong, and drummers Leonard King and Richard "Pistol" Allen, plus special guests, through three hot summer nights.

Just like he covers every saxophone, Carter covers just about every style, on Live at Baker's. On the first track, Oscar Pettiford's "Tricotism," his playing reshapes a solid groove into an harmonic adventure much further out, like Lou Donaldson and Pharoah Sanders blowing on the same bandstand. On Don Byas' stately tenor ballad, Carter swings "Free and Easy."

Carter and guest tenor David Murray lay an ass-whipping on "Freedom Jazz Dance" of which its composer—'the lamented, mercurial Eddie Harri—would surely be proud. Dueling on the melody, each inspiring the other to play hotter, while the drummer boils the pot with a hard-rocking snare sound, a true flash of transcendent musical communion from a blazing spirit of live performance. Just great.

Guest tenor Franz Jackson lays a hilarious vocal down in this charmingly unpolished "I Can't Get Started," as Carter's soprano sings sweet and light in contrast to Jackson's gruff "Satchmo" vocal.

The set ends with Carter, Murray, Jackson and Johnny Griffin all honking tenor madness on an electrifying eleven-minute workout through "Foot Pattin'" which showcases bassist Armstrong in a taffy-pull, elastic solo spot. In the true Motor City tradition of bassist James Jamerson, Armstrong plays the musical fulcrum and unsung hero throughout, hot-wiring "Tricotism" and "Foot Pattin'" then driving them hard to their finish, and sliding deep down into the funk of "Freedom Jazz Dance."

As for Carter, he looks back in his liner notes at this gig as "a hip and blessed homecoming." Who says you can't go home again?

Track Listing

Tricotism; Soul Street; Freedom Jazz Dance; I Can't Get Started; Free and Easy; Low Flame; Sack Full of Dreams

Personnel

James Carter
saxophone, tenor

James Carter, soprano, tenor, and baritone sax; Johnny Griffin, tenor sax; David Murray, tenor sax; Franz Jackson, tenor sax, vocal; Larry Smith, alto sax; Dwight Adams, trumpet; Kenn Cox, piano; Gerard Gibbs, organ; Ralphe Armstrong, bass; Leonard King, drums; Richard "Pistol" Allen, drums.

Album information

Title: Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Warner Bros.

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.