In many ways technology, and computers, are enslaving and oppressing us all. But of course there are also positive aspects. It’s amazing that I can be ‘friends’, albeit only via FB, with living legends like the elegant maestro, Ron Carter.
On may 4th this year Ron will be 86. And he’s still gigging and recording!!! Apparently he’s the most recorded jazz bassist ever, playing on over 2,200 album (and with over 30 recordings under his own name).
But for me it’s not the quantity of his prodigious output, so much as the quality. He’s on so many albums that I rank amongst my favourites, from the classic Miles Quintet recordings, to dates with Alice Coltrane and Brazilian maestro Tom Jobim. Although he’s best known as an acoustic bassist, he has on occasion played electric. He’s the cat holding down the low-register grooves on Roy Ayer’s super-slinky We Live In Brooklyn, Baby!
If you love Ron Carter anywhere near as much as I do, do yourself a favour and dig Rick Beato’s terrific interview with this fantastic artist and human being.
For me May 4th is now going to be Ron Carter Day, as long as I live. Bless you, Ron. And may you be hale and hearty for years to come. Thanks for all the great music. A lifetime well spent, and still ongoing. What an incredible inspiration.
PS – It was nice to get a reaction from Ron:
PPS – I found another great interview with Ron here. This one is an online ‘print’ style interview (ie not a video, like Beato’s), but is very much worth reading.
PPPS(!) – The observant might notice that at the top left of the above album cover photo-collage is Roy Ayer’s Daddy Bug, but with a cover I’ve never seen before. I’d love to know what the story is there? I far prefer this new to me ladybird on an umbellifer to the usual version. I looked on Discogs, to try and find such a version. No dice!