![]() ![]() Carter even invented his own instrument, a piccolo bass. He’s led his own bands at various intervals since 1972, using a second bassist to keep time and establish harmony so he’s free to provide solos. Tour, and Milestone Jazzstars, and was in one of the groups featured in the film Round Midnight in 1986. Carter’s been a member of New York Jazz Sextet and New York Jazz Quartet, V.S.O.P. The list of people he’s played with is simply too great to be accurately and completely cited. He’s been heard on an unprecedented number of recordings some sources claim 500, others have estimated it to be as many as 1,000. The high-profile job led to the reputation that’s seen Carter become possibly the most recorded bassist in jazz history. He joined Art Farmer’s group for a short time in 1963, before he was tapped to become a member of Miles Davis’ band.Ĭarter remained with Davis until 1968, appearing on every crucial mid-’60s recording and teaming with Herbie Hancock and Tony Williams to craft a new, freer rhythm section sound. Carter also toured and recorded with Bobby Timmons’ trio, and played with Cannonball Adderley. He worked with Randy Weston and Thelonious Monk, while playing and recording with Jaki Byard in the early ’60s. ![]() After Hamilton returned to the West Coast in 1960, Carter stayed in New York and played with Dolphy and Don Ellis, cutting his first records with them. Carter earned his master’s degree in 1961. He moved to New York and played in Chico Hamilton’s quintet with Eric Dolphy, while also enrolling at the Manhattan School of Music. He played in the Eastman School’s Philharmonic Orchestra, and gained his degree in 1959. But when his family moved from Ferndale, MI, to Detroit, Carter ran into problems with racial stereotypes regarding the cello and switched to bass. He’s almost exclusively an acoustic player he did play electric for a short time in the late ’60s and early ’70s, but hasn’t used it in many, many years.Ĭarter began playing cello at ten. Carter’s nearly as accomplished in classical music as jazz, and has performed with symphony orchestras all over the world. Carter has been featured in clothing, instrument, and pipe advertisements he’s close to being the bass equivalent of a Duke Ellington in his mix of musical and extra-musical interests. His bowed solos are almost as impressive as those done with his fingers. He’s a brilliant rhythmic and melodic player, who uses everything in the bass and cello arsenal walking lines, thick, full, prominent notes and tones, drones and strumming effects, and melody snippets. He’s among the greatest accompanists of all time, but has also done many albums exhibiting his prodigious technique. The epitome of class and elegance, though not stuffy, Ron Carter has been a world class bassist and cellist since the ’60s. ![]()
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