The legendary bassist's long and storied career is a testament to his unfading love for music – and he's still at the top of his game.
He's recorded and toured with Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Joe Henderson, and holds the world record for the number of appearances on recording, having played on an incredible 2222 albums. Ron Carter is undeniably a jazz legend, and he'll grace the stage of Rudolfinum at this year's Prague Sounds.
Carter came to prominence in the 1960s as a member of Miles Davis's second 'great quintet' alongside Tony Williams, Herbie Hancock, and Wayne Shorter. It was in this line-up that he changed the history of jazz with his unorthodox approach to rhythm, walking bass, and group dynamics. Throughout a decade that was revelatory for jazz, he established himself as an exceptional band member, sought after by many bandleaders for his unmistakeable beat, but also as a composer and bandleader in his own right. He continues to excel in all these roles to this day, when in a single year he can fit in touring the world with his groups Foursight or The Golden Striker, recording a trio record with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, teaching dozens of classes, and top it all off with a series of concerts with accordionist Richard Galliano. Those classes he teaches, incidentally, have long held legendary status among bassists, and those who've taken them never forget them. Mister Carter, as his peers and colleagues respectfully call him, continues to spread joy and, as he himself says, to 'keep looking for the right notes.' Despite his unbelievable achievements as a recording artist, Carter's charisma and skill is best appreciated in a live setting: at 86, he's in the kind of musical and physical shape that is both admirable and inspiring.
