Ron Carter
The epitome of class and elegance, though not stuffy, Ron Carter has been a world class bassist and cellist since the ’60s. He’s among the greatest accompanists of all time, but has also done many albums exhibiting his prodigious technique. 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. His bowed solos are almost as impressive as those done with his fingers. 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. Carter’s nearly as accomplished in classical music as jazz, and has performed with symphony orchestras all over the world. 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.
Carter began playing cello at ten. 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 played in the Eastman School’s Philharmonic Orchestra, and gained his degree in 1959. He moved to New York and played in Chico Hamilton’s quintet with Eric Dolphy, while also enrolling at the Manhattan School of Music. Carter earned his master’s degree in 1961. 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. He worked with Randy Weston and Thelonious Monk, while playing and recording with Jaki Byard in the early ’60s. Carter also toured and recorded with Bobby Timmons’ trio, and played with Cannonball Adderley. He joined Art Farmer’s group for a short time in 1963, before he was tapped to become a member of Miles Davis’ band.
Carter 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. The high-profile job led to the reputation that’s seen Carter become possibly the most recorded bassist in jazz history. 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 list of people he’s played with is simply too great to be accurately and completely cited. Carter’s been a member of New York Jazz Sextet and New York Jazz Quartet, V.S.O.P. Tour, and Milestone Jazzstars, and was in one of the groups featured in the film Round Midnight in 1986.
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. Carter even invented his own instrument, a piccolo bass. Carter’s also contributed many arrangements and compositions to both his groups and other bands. He’s done duo recordings with either Cedar Walton or Jim Hall. Carter’s recorded for Embryo/Atlantic, CTI, Milestone, Timeless, EmArcy, Galaxy, Elektra, and Concord, eventually landing at Blue Note for LPs including 1997’s The Bass and I, 1998’s So What, and 1999’s Orfeu. When Skies Are Grey surfaced in early 2001, followed a year later by Stardust, Carter’s tribute to the late bassist Oscar Pettiford. In 2006 another tribute album was released, Dear Miles, dedicated to Miles Davis, also on Blue Note.
from allmusic
Ron Carter
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Lady Day - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Mamacita - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Autumn Leaves - Full Bass Score by Ron Carter
Infant Eyes - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Miyako - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Eighty-One - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Limbo (Alternate Version) - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Sweet Lorraine - Ron Carter Full Bass Score
Pee Wee - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
E.S.P. - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Vonetta - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
The Big Push - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Speak No Evil - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Speak Like a Child - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Now's The Time - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Confirmation - Ron Carter Full Bass Score
So Near, So Far - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
In a Sentimental Mood - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
The Eye of the Hurricane - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Pinocchio (Alternate Take) - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Maiden Voyage - Ron Carter Bass Line (3 Choruses)
Nefertiti - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Seven Steps to Heaven - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Pinocchio - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Well You Needn't - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Dolphin Dance - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
St. Thomas - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Wave - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Alone Together - Ron Carter Melody + Line (2 Ch.) + Solo
All of You - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
My One And Only Love - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
All The Things You Are - Ron Carter Full Bass Score
Gingerbread Boy - Ron Carter Bass Line (11 Choruses)
Beatrice - Ron Carter Full Bass Score
Black Narcissus - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Autumn Leaves - Ron Carter Full Bass Score
Blues in the Closet - Ron Carter Bass Melody + Solo
First Trip - Ron Carter Melody + Solo (2 Choruses)
Eight - Ron Carter Bass Melody + Solo (2 Choruses)
Satin Doll - Ron Carter Bass Solo
Mr. P.C. - Ron Carter Full Bass Line
Beatrice - Ron Carter Bass Solo
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