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Double Bass Ron Carter - Ron Carter - Ron Carter - Ron Carter

Sam Sherry

Sam Sherry

Inadvertent Microtonalist
Supporting Member
Sep 26, 2001
2,815
2,785
Portland, ME
#1
Everybody here and lots of other places knows that I am an idiot. I thought that this wonderful performance here by Charnett Moffet, accompanied by Wynton Marsalis on trumpet, was by Ron Carter. What a dope!

But I want to leave this thread up as a paeon to Ron Carter anyway. We are so lucky to live in a world where so many of us can listen to Ron Carter when we feel like it.

Thanks for your patience.
 
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#2
I love the way you say "accompanied only by Wynton Marsalis." Often it's the rhythm section that really makes the music work, but, sadly, listeners don't really get that. This is truly a great track and one I've never heard - thank you. In the rapturous comments on youtube no one mentions the bassist. How weird - just the two of them, after all. Reminds me of the essential concept of Standing in the Shadows of Motown that what a lot of the people buying those classic Motown tracks were actually responding to the groove laid down by the Funk Brothers (led by bassist J. Jamerson), not the star singing the song.
 
#3
I love the way you say "accompanied only by Wynton Marsalis." Often it's the rhythm section that really makes the music work, but, sadly, listeners don't really get that. This is truly a great track and one I've never heard - thank you. In the rapturous comments on youtube no one mentions the bassist. How weird - just the two of them, after all. Reminds me of the essential concept of Standing in the Shadows of Motown that what a lot of the people buying those classic Motown tracks were actually responding to was the groove laid down by the Funk Brothers (led by bassist J. Jamerson), not the star singing the song.
 
#4
Thanks, Sam — I hadn't heard this in years. Beautiful playing from both. I heard R.C. here in Cologne last week with his trio and he sounded impeccable. He's one of the reasons I love to walk, and he remains a standard of excellence. Invalid Link Removed I think that just about sums it up.
 
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#13
Thanks for posting this. Even if it isn't Ron Carter it's a great player.

However, there did seem to be a few (only a few) instances where the bassist got ahead of himself and either hit the target note too soon or realized he was going to hit the target note too soon and had to jump it for a double chromatic approach. Sometimes the phrasing wasn't quite right (would have to listen again for specific problems, but things like tensions on 1) That isn't to say things like that don't happen to great players, too, it's just to say, I'm a little relieved things like that happen to great players too...

It's also possible all of these things were completely intentional, like when a great writer purposely breaks a grammar rule. But a couple times it just sounded like he lost his bearings.

Disclaimer: I could not accompany WM on a trip to Walmart, let alone take him for a 5 minute walk, so take me as an interested armchair quarterback.
 
#16
Sam Sherry said:
For those who have occasionally complained about Mr. Carter's sound, you'll find him on a mic here. There's no doubt about who is on the business end of the glass. Every nuance is on prominent display.
Click to expand...

Well, it's funny that people complain about his sound so much. I used to do a bit of that. He is well documented via famous and very important recordings. The whole CTI era brought him to the front on a lot of mediocre musical offerings from leaders who should have known better..imo. But OTOH, all you have to do is listen to earlier RC works with Miles, ect, and hear the same bass lines played by RC in a much more fertile and creative environment. I'm glad he was able to find a stepping stone to the levels he has achieved as both a solo artist and educator. One of my favorite pop jazz bassists to listen too, ever. Of popular jazz bassists, he is the guy who stepped up after Ray Brown to show the world at large how important the art form of jazz on the acoustic bass is. I'm not sure we've witnessed the successor to that throne yet.
 
#19
There are a couple of records like "Mode for Joe" that just had to be Ron Carter. I can't imagine anyone else playing on that record. "The Real McCoy" is another one, it would have been a completely different album if anyone else had been on bass.
 

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