Home » Jazz Musicians » Ron Carter

Ron Carter

Ron Carter is an NEA Jazz Master

Ron Carter is among the most original, prolific, and influential bassists in jazz. With more than 2,000 albums to his credit, he has recorded with many of music's greats: Tommy Flanagan, Gil Evans, Lena Horne, Bill Evans, B.B. King, the Kronos Quartet, Dexter Gordon, Wes Montgomery, and Bobby Timmons.

Ron Graduated the Eastman School in 1959 and packed up his belongings and moved to New York City with his wife, Janet. Later that year, Downbeat magazine listed Ron as #15 of 23 in their bass player poll. A great start.

In the early 1960s he performed throughout the United States in concert halls and nightclubs with Jaki Byard and Eric Dolphy. He later toured Europe with Cannonball Adderley. From 1963 to 1968, he was a member of the classic and acclaimed Miles Davis Quintet. He was named Outstanding Bassist of the Decade by the Detroit News, Jazz Bassist of the Year by Downbeat magazine, and Most Valuable Player by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

In 1993 Ron Carter earned a Grammy award for Best Jazz Instrumental Group, the Miles Davis Tribute Band and another Grammy in 1998 for Call 'Sheet Blues', an instrumental composition from the film 'Round Midnight. In addition to scoring and arranging music for many films, including some projects for Public Broadcasting System, Carter has composed music for A Gathering of Old Men, starring Lou Gosset Jr., The Passion of Beatrice directed by Bertrand Tavernier, and Blind Faith starring Courtney B. Vance. Carter shares his expertise in the series of books he authored, among which are Building Jazz Bass Lines and The Music of Ron Carter; the latter contains 130 of his published and recorded compositions.

Carter earned a bachelor of music degree from the Eastman School in Rochester and a master's degree in double bass from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. He has also received two honorary doctorates, from the New England Conservatory of Music and the Manhattan School of Music, and was the 2002 recipient of the prestigious Hutchinson Award from the Eastman School at the University of Rochester. Carter has lectured, conducted, and performed at clinics and master classes, instructing jazz ensembles and teaching the business of music at numerous universities. He was Artistic Director of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Studies while it was located in Boston and, after 18 years on the faculty of the Music Department of The City College of New York, he is now Distinguished Professor Emeritus.

Read more

Tags

17
Album Review

Joe Henderson: Power to the People

Read "Power to the People" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


Beginning with 1963's Page One, Joe Henderson led a series of five albums for the Blue Note label that firmly established his reputation as a unique and budding artist with something vital to say. He was one of many artists at that time who utilized his Blue Note contract to document his every move while establishing his creative muse during this process. Trumpeter Kenny Dorham would be a major factor in the success of his first few sessions, with drummer ...

1
Album Review

Wes Montgomery: Maximum Swing: The Unissued 1965 Half Note Recordings

Read "Maximum Swing: The Unissued 1965 Half Note Recordings" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


La Resonance Records, etichetta californiana legata a un'organizzazione non-profit dedita a preservare l'arte e l'eredità della musica jazz, prosegue instancabile la sua attività di archeologia musicale pubblicando questo doppio CD di Wes Montgomery col trio del pianista Wynton Kelly al famoso club di New York Half Note nel 1965, all'incirca nello stesso periodo delle esibizioni raccolte nell'album Smokin' at the Half Note. I brani contenuti in questa raccolta provengono da cinque diverse date comprese tra il 24 Settembre e la ...

36
Album Review

Ray Gallon: Grand Company

Read "Grand Company" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Score one for truth in advertising. New York City-based pianist Ray Gallon is definitely in Grand Company on his first recording as the leader of a trio, ably chaperoned every step of the way by bassist Ron Carter and drummer Lewis Nash who are quite simply two of the best in the business (Hall of Fame caliber), and have been at the top of their game for many years. That is not to imply that Gallon merely ...

13
Album Review

Alan Shorter: Mephistopholes To Orgasm Revisited

Read "Mephistopholes To Orgasm Revisited" reviewed by Chris May


It is often said of a musician, be they alive or no longer with us, that they deserve to be better known. This is emphatically true of the wayward trumpeter and composer Alan Shorter, who was overshadowed during his lifetime by his brother, Wayne Shorter, and who continues to be passed over today in 2024. Some responsibility for his obscurity lies with Alan Shorter himself. Known as Doc Strange to his teenage schoolmates in Newark, New Jersey, ...

14
Album Review

Ray Gallon: Grand Company

Read "Grand Company" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


Ray Gallon is a pianist with a rich and complex musical vocabulary. In the company of bassist Ron Carter and percussionist Lewis Nash, he has recorded an album that is filled with technical proficiency and emotional depth as well as a unique artistic voice. Adding to the enjoyment is the sophistication of the recording, which was made at the Van Gelder Recording Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, under engineer Maureen Sickler. This nine-track session is ...

19
Live Review

Ron Carter & the Foursight Quartet at Barcelona Jazz Festival

Read "Ron Carter & the Foursight Quartet at Barcelona Jazz Festival" reviewed by Giulia Bianchi


Ron Carter and the Foursight Quartet Voll Damm Festival Jazz Barcelona at Paral-el 62 Barcelona November 9, 2023 Ron Carter and his ensemble, the Foursight Quartet, recently performed on November 9th at the prestigious Voll Damm Festival Jazz Barcelona, a global benchmark for jazz music. The festival offers various activities that cater to music aficionados and enthusiasts alike. With contributions to more than 2,200 recordings to his name, legendary virtuoso Ron Carter is ...

25
Reassessing

The Electric Years Box Set

Read "The Electric Years Box Set" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


In a year that has brought us a true bounty of previously unheard majesty including Evenings at the Village Gate: John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy (Impulse!), and Bill Evans; Treasures: Solo, Trio & Orchestra Recordings from Denmark (1965-1969), (Elemental Music) it is only fitting that Miles Davis get his due. And in a very, very big way. Seared into modern memory, modern art, the music presented on the gloriously massive, eleven LP set Miles Davis: The Electric Years ...

Read more articles
2

Performance / Tour

New York's Smoke Jazz Club Announces Line-up For July Including Miguel Zenon, Tierney Sutton, Ron Carter And More

New York's Smoke Jazz Club Announces Line-up For July Including Miguel Zenon, Tierney Sutton, Ron Carter And More

Source: AMT Public Relations

Rated the #1 Jazz Club in New York City (Secret NYC), Smoke Jazz Club welcomes some of today’s leading artists to the stage during the month of July. Making their Smoke Jazz Club debuts are alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón, trumpeter Tony Glausi, and vocalist Tierney Sutton. Many jazz legends return to the Smoke stage including Ron Carter, Louis Hayes, Billy Harper, and more. Please scroll down for the complete schedule or visit SMOKEjazz.com. Thu-Sun Jun 29-Jul 2 Russell Malone Quartet ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Ron Carter

Jazz Musician of the Day: Ron Carter

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Ron Carter's birthday today!

Ron Carter is among the most original, prolific, and influential bassists in jazz. With more than 2,000 albums to his credit, he has recorded with many of music's greats: Tommy Flanagan, Gil Evans, Lena Horne, Bill Evans, B.B. King, the Kronos Quartet, Dexter Gordon, Wes Montgomery, and Bobby Timmons. Ron Graduated the Eastman School in 1959 and packed up his belongings and moved to New York City with his wife, Janet. ...

1

Music Industry

Documentary: Ron Carter - Finding the Right Notes

Documentary: Ron Carter - Finding the Right Notes

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Ron Carter got off to a big start. His first recording session was playing bass on Ernie Wilkins's The Big New Band of the '60s, in March and April 1960. The band included Clark Terry (tp,flhrn); Richard Williams and Charlie Shavers (tp); Henderson Chambers (tb); two unknown trombonists; Earle Warren (as); Zoot Sims, Seldon Powell and Yusef Lateef (ts); Eddie Costa (vib); Walter Bishop, Jr. (p); Kenny Burrell (g); Ron Carter (b); Charlie Persip (d) and Ernie Wilkins (arr,dir). Ron ...

3

Recording

Ron Carter & The Jazzaar Festival Big Band Directed By Christian Jacob

Ron Carter & The Jazzaar Festival Big Band Directed By Christian Jacob

Source: Helen Savari-Renold

The live recording, Remembering Bob Freedman at the 2019 Jazzaar Festival, Switzerland was released on October 6, 2021 on Shanti Records. The 17-piece Jazzaar Festival Big Band was assembled specifically for the 2019 festival showcasing the phenomenon of the “Bandstand Learning with Role Models” platform. This was founded in 1992 by Fritz K Renold and Helen Savari-Renold, also the producers of this recording. The album features the bass legend Ron Carter with some acclaimed jazz instrumentalists such as trumpeter Ryan ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Ron Carter

Jazz Musician of the Day: Ron Carter

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Ron Carter's birthday today!

Ron Carter is among the most original, prolific, and influential bassists in jazz. With more than 2,000 albums to his credit, he has recorded with many of music's greats: Tommy Flanagan, Gil Evans, Lena Horne, Bill Evans, B.B. King, the Kronos Quartet, Dexter Gordon, Wes Montgomery, and Bobby Timmons. In the early 1960s he performed throughout the United States in concert halls and nightclubs with Jaki Byard and Eric Dolphy. He ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Ron Carter

Jazz Musician of the Day: Ron Carter

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Ron Carter's birthday today!

Ron Carter is among the most original, prolific, and influential bassists in jazz. With more than 2,000 albums to his credit, he has recorded with many of music's greats: Tommy Flanagan, Gil Evans, Lena Horne, Bill Evans, B.B. King, the Kronos Quartet, Dexter Gordon, Wes Montgomery, and Bobby Timmons. In the early 1960s he performed throughout the United States in concert halls and nightclubs with Jaki Byard and Eric Dolphy. He ...

8

Event

Three-Day HeartH Star Festival:One Streaming Event Begins May 21, 2020!

Three-Day HeartH Star Festival:One Streaming Event Begins May 21, 2020!

Source: John Kelman

Welcome Aboard HeartH Star Festival:One A unique world-wide music and arts festival! The Hearth Star Festival: One is a live three-day, online festival intended to weave an international array of passionate storytellers, dancers, healers and musicians into a beautiful tapestry of sound, light and color. Please join us at our opening ceremony from the beach in Maui this Thursday, May 21, 2020, and participate in the creation of our collective worldwide tapestry. It’s all too beautiful! Featuring: Ron Carter, Dick ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Ron Carter

Jazz Musician of the Day: Ron Carter

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Ron Carter's birthday today!

Ron Carter is among the most original, prolific, and influential bassists in jazz. With more than 2,000 albums to his credit, he has recorded with many of music's greats: Tommy Flanagan, Gil Evans, Lena Horne, Bill Evans, B.B. King, the Kronos Quartet, Dexter Gordon, Wes Montgomery, and Bobby Timmons. In the early 1960s he performed throughout the United States in concert halls and nightclubs with Jaki Byard and Eric Dolphy. He ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Ron Carter

Jazz Musician of the Day: Ron Carter

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Ron Carter's birthday today!

Ron Carter is among the most original, prolific, and influential bassists in jazz. With more than 2,000 albums to his credit, he has recorded with many of music\'s greats: Tommy Flanagan, Gil Evans, Lena Horne, Bill Evans, B.B. King, the Kronos Quartet, Dexter Gordon, Wes Montgomery, and Bobby Timmons. In the early 1960s he performed throughout the United States in concert halls and nightclubs with Jaki Byard and Eric Dolphy... Read ...

6

Radio

Lenny White Podcast - He Hosts In-Depth Interviews With Ron Carter, Mike Clarke, DJ Logic And More! Listen And Learn!

Lenny White Podcast - He Hosts In-Depth Interviews With Ron Carter, Mike Clarke, DJ Logic And More!  Listen And Learn!

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

IYOUWE Universe Podcast now available! Click here to hear the new IYOUWE Universe Podcast. The brand new interview podcast, IYOUWE Universe, is out now on all major podcast hosts! Hosted by Lenny White, the podcast delivers candid interviews with some of music's most influential figures. First three episodes: Ron Carter | Mike Clark | DJ Logic New episodes will become available every Tuesday! Listen now on: iTunes | Google Play Music | Stitcher Radio ...

“[Carter] is arguably the greatest bass player jazz has ever known.” – Philadelphia Inquirer “... the always innovative Carter pushes forward with a sound as fresh as ever.” – USA Today "Ron Carter is the greatest jazz bassist ever, with his unparalleled gift for creating bass lines." – Bass Player Magazine
Richard Steffens
bass, acoustic
Matt Kendrick
bass, acoustic
Kim A. Clarke
bass, acoustic
Joris Teepe
bass, acoustic
Bruno Raberg
bass, acoustic
Sam Allen
drums
Frank Tusa
bass, acoustic
Greg Loughman
bass, acoustic
Ken Lister
bass, acoustic
Steven Husted
bass, acoustic
Gui Duvignau
bass, acoustic
Doug Smith
bass, acoustic
Sal La Rocca
bass, acoustic
Don Mopsick
bass, acoustic
Doug Ebert
bass, acoustic
Rick Steffens
bass, acoustic
Adam Armstrong
bass, acoustic
José Canha
bass, acoustic
Pete Coco
bass, acoustic
The Rookies
arranger
Akos Forgacs
bass, electric
Jaehyun Cho
bass, acoustic
Erkin Kydykbaev
bass, acoustic
Bishu Chattopadhyay
bass, acoustic
Zachary McDonald
bass, electric
Ron Carter & The Jazzaar Festival Big Band
band / ensemble / orchestra
Brian Alexander
bass, acoustic
Tombajazz
band / ensemble / orchestra
Tomba
bass

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Best of Tobin...

ArtsForge
2024

buy

That You Not Dare To...

Legacy Recordings
2023

buy

Rovanio: The Music of...

In + Out Records
2023

buy

One Day, Forever

Arkadia Records
2023

buy

Rovanio

In + Out Records
2023

buy

First Contact

From: Best of Tobin Mueller, Vol. 5:...
By Ron Carter

Come In Funky (feat. Ron Carter & Woody Mankowski)

From: Best of Tobin Mueller, Vol. 5:...
By Ron Carter

Come In Funky

From: Come in Funky
By Ron Carter

Come In Funky

From: Come in Funky
By Ron Carter

Come In Funky

From: Come in Funky
By Ron Carter

Come In Funky

From: Come in Funky
By Ron Carter

Come In Funky

From: Come in Funky
By Ron Carter

Come In Funky

From: Come in Funky
By Ron Carter

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

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