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Ron Carter Archive

David Hazeltine – The Time Is Now – Smoke Sessions Records

by Audiophile Audition | Feb 19, 2019 | Jazz CD Reviews

Three consummate professionals with an appreciation of shared striving

Freddie Hubbard/Stanley Turrentine – In Concert Volume One & Two – CTI Records/Speakers Corner

by Audiophile Audition | Sep 5, 2018 | Jazz CD Reviews

Inspirational 1973 all-star concert gets new life on re-mastered vinyl!

Masters Legacy Series Volume 2 Emmet Cohen Featuring Ron Carter with Evan Sherman CellarLive

by Audiophile Audition | Mar 12, 2018 | Jazz CD Reviews

A release that is bursting with energy and anchored in a strong expressive foundation Masters Legacy Series Volume 2 Emmet Cohen Featuring Ron Carter with Evan Sherman CellarLive CL 062917 76:11****: ( Emmet Cohen piano; Ron Carter – acoustic bass; Evan Sherman – drums) Impresario and record label owner Cory Weeds, may have captured lightning in a bottle when he proposed to the dazzling young pianist Emmet Cohen to join the CellarLive label to lead the introduction of the Masters Legacy Series. Given the success of the first offering that featured the legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb, this follow-up release with the great bassist and composer Ron Carter is sure to establish these albums as essential listening experiences. It has been reported that Ron Carter has appeared on more albums than any other jazz bassist, and the list of those jazz greats with whom he has recorded spans decades and musical styles. Yet over the years there has not been any diminishment in his round muscular tone, and prodigious technique. All these Carter characteristics are fully evident on the opening track, Cole Porter’s “All Of You” which was part of the Miles Davis Quintet repetoire on which Carter was prominent player […]

Best of the Year Discs for 2016

by Audiophile Audition | Jan 20, 2017 | Best of the Year

Best of the Year Discs for 2016 = The 12 Multichannel Hi-Res Discs of the Month for 2016 CLASSICAL (incl. HI-RES), CLASSICAL REISSUES, CLASSICAL VINYL & PURE AUDIO BLU-RAY KATI AGÓCS: The Debrecen Passion – BMOP Sound 1046 American First Piano Sonatas – Licad, p. – Danacord * ”For the Beauty of the Earth” – Celebrating Creation – Works of WIDOR, VAUGHAN-WILLIAMS and others – Gabriel V Brass Ensemble/Sharon Rose Pfeiffer, pipe organ/ percussion ens. – Arte/ Paraclete SACD GDCD 061 * BEETHOVEN: The Nine Symphonies (1963); Rehearsal of the Ninth Sym. – Berlin PO./ Herbert von Karajan – DGG Pure Audio Blu-ray stereo 00289 479 5977 Maya Beiser, “Transclassical” – Innova 952 Jussi Bjoerling in Copenhagen – JSP Records LUCIANO BERIO: Sinfonia & GUSTAV MAHLER: Ten Early Songs – HMC 902180 BRAHMS AND HINDEMITH Viola Sonatas Reisenberg/Doktor – Romeo Records * COUPERIN: Trois Lecons de Tenebres; SEBASTIEN DE BROSSARD: Trio Sonatas in c and a; Stabat Mater – La Nuova Musica/ David Bates – Harmonia mundi SACD HMU 807659 * Chick Corea (piano) & Bela Fleck (banjo) – Two – Concord Jazz CIA-37992-2 (2 CDs) * CORIGLIANO: The Ghosts of Versailles (complete opera) – Soloists/ LA […]

The Detroit Jazz Festival – Labor Day Weekend, 2016

by Audiophile Audition | Sep 7, 2016 | Special Features

Covering all bases, and well! – 37th Annual Detroit Jazz Festival…. Review of Detroit Jazz Festival – Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 2-5, 2016 The Detroit Jazz Festival holds a distinct and venerable place as one of the most treasured jazz festivals in the country. It is the largest free (!) jazz festival in North America. Taking place in downtown Detroit, covering four stages on both sides of Jefferson Avenue, on Campus Martius and Hart Plaza (bordering the picturesque Detroit River), the festival celebrates the rich tradition of Detroit’s past and present jazz scene. It brings together often neglected regional jazz legends with the best of today’s trend setters. This is the third festival that I have attended, and I eagerly await each visit with the anticipation of an expected jazz smorgasbord of riches. I am proud to say that I have never been disappointed. This is due to the fact that fact that Detroit knows its jazz. From a rich history producing the Jones Brothers (Hank, Thad, and Elvin), to Tommy Flanagan, Barry Harris, Yusef Lateef, Milt Jackson, Donald Byrd – the list goes on and on – the Motor City stands along side only New York City as a […]

Joe Henderson/Chick Corea etc. – Mirror, Mirror – MPS vinyl

by Audiophile Audition | Sep 1, 2016 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Joe Henderson expands the vision on Mirror, Mirror… Joe Henderson/Chick Corea etc. – Mirror, Mirror – MPS 0210998MSW – vinyl (1980) ***: (Joe Henderson – tenor sax; Chick Corea – piano; Ron Carter – bass; Billy Higgins – drums) Joe Henderson, the iconic jazz tenor saxist, covered all bases. He could be deeply in the groove as a key member of Horace Silver’s funky hard bop band, yet at home with free expression exploring abstract jazz. He led sophisticated large bands and earned a Grammy honoring Billy Strayhorn on his well-received album, Lush Life. He was a reserved musician, never showy, and highly respected by his peers. He was inspired by John Coltrane and that influence is felt on this 1980 release, just reissued by MPS on vinyl. Backed by three all-stars, Chick Corea, Ron Carter, and Billy Higgins, we find Joe in a complex harmonically advanced modal space exploring fellow band member’s compositions, as well as one of his own tunes, and the standard, “What’s New.” Joe enters avant-garde space but does not venture so far as to alienate mainstream listeners. His composition, “Joe’s Bolero” goes out onto the ledge but is not a free dive as his bellowing […]

Steve Turre – Colors For The Masters – Smoke Sessions

by Audiophile Audition | Aug 19, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Steve Turre – Colors For The Masters – Smoke Sessions SSR-1606, 60:51 ****: A group of jazz professionals developing a thoughtful rapport in an attractive uncluttered session. (Steve Turre – trombone & shells; Kenny Barron – piano; Ron Carter – bass; Jimmy Cobb – drums; Special guests: Javon Jackson – tenor saxophone, tracks 1/3/4/6; Cyro Baptista – percussion, track 10) Steve Turre knew he was going to have good day when he woke up on February 25, 2016. He was going into the recording studio to cut an album with an iconic jazz rhythm section. The ever tasty pianist Kenny Barron, the impeccable bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Jimmy Cobb who at eighty-seven was the only surviving member of the Miles Davis band that recorded the consummate jazz album Kind Of Blue in 1959. By the end of the day, Turre would not have been disappointed, as the album Colors For The Masters has turned out to be the perfect example of a group of jazz professionals developing a thoughtful rapport, in an attractive uncluttered session. The music for this “live” recorded session is a deft combination of Turre originals, and other compositions from some well-known jazz players, as well […]

Houston Person & Ron Carter – Chemistry – HighNote

by Audiophile Audition | Aug 4, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Houston Person & Ron Carter – Chemistry [TrackList follows] – HighNote HCD 7293 49:25 ****: An exuberant release from a definitive bassist and an earthy tenor saxophonist. (Houston Person – tenor saxophone; Ron Carter – bass) The word chemistry springs from the word alchemy which in its very early etymology was often seen as linked to the search to turn common metals such as iron into gold. This release is called Chemistry from Houston Person and Ron Carter, and the intermediate process has been eliminated, resulting in pure gold. In this session of standards, the tunes have been culled from the American Songbook with the intention of providing unabashed look at life, love youth and beauty. So if you want to hear two masters at work, playing off and for each other, this is the place to be. In addition, the dean of recording engineers Rudy Van Gelder brought his artistry to the session giving both instruments a deep full approachable sound that was a hallmark of his style. Miles Davis’ first great quintet recorded “Bye Bye Blackbird” and although Ron Carter was in the second iteration of the group, he was fully aware of the connection to the band. […]

Ron Carter – All Blues – CTI 6037 (1974)/ Pure Pleasure (2016) – vinyl

by Audiophile Audition | Jul 15, 2016 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Ron Carter – All Blues – CTI 6037 (1974)/Pure Pleasure (2016) stereo vinyl, 36:01, ****1/2: An audiophile vinyl re-mastering of a jazz legend sounds great! Ron Carter – doublebass, piccolo bass; Joe Henderson – tenor saxophone; Roland Hanna – piano; Richard Tee – electric piano on “117 Special”; Billy Cobham – drums, percussion) There aren’t many jazz bassists who are regarded as jazz icons. Ron Carter is certainly at the head of this group. As a sideman, he played with Eric Dolphy, Cannonball Adderly, Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk and was part of the second Miles Davis Quintet. Carter has scored many films, and taught jazz composition. His approach to interval jazz composition has drawn comparison to Duke Ellington. More importantly, he has been recording for over fifty years, enhancing his substantial influence in the jazz community. Among the many contributions was All Blues, released on the CTI label in 1974. Recorded over one session in late 1973, this album is widely considered to be among the greatest of all time. Pure Pleasure Records has released a 180-gram vinyl re-mastering of All Blues. With a quartet featuring Carter (double bass), Joe Henderson (tenor saxophone), Roland Hanna (piano) and Billy Cobham (drums/percussion), […]

Charles Rumback – In the New Year – ears&eyes

by Audiophile Audition | Jan 5, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Modern jazz music which seems to pull apart even as it attains continuity. Charles Rumback – In the New Year [TrackList follows] – ears&eyes ee:15-o38, 52:40 [12/4/15] ***1/2: (Charles Rumback – drums, co-producer; Caroline Davis – alto saxophone; Jeff Parker – guitar; Jason Stein – bass clarinet; John Tate – bass) Chicago drummer Charles Rumback is a musician who is comfortable in a myriad of genres, from rock to jazz, which gives his improvisations and compositions a dynamic, eclectic nature, somewhere between modern jazz and avant-garde. If a name has to fit, consider calling it alternative jazz. Rumback’s debut, Two Kinds of Art Thieves (Clean Feed, 2009) was an open-minded, free-fluctuating affair. Rumback charts a parallel, liberating direction on his latest outing, the 52-minute In the New Year (issued in late 2015 but well worth hearing at the beginning of another year). For this effort, Rumback recruited some of the finest unconventional artists associated with the Chicago and New York outsider jazz scenes, comprising alto saxophonist Caroline Davis; guitarist Jeff Parker (Chicago Underground Trio, Tortoise and Ken Vandermark); bass clarinetist Jason Stein (Exploding Star Orchestra, and others); and bassist John Tate. Rumback penned six of the eight tunes; Tate wrote […]