Ron Carter - Where to start?

Hi everyone, I'm looking for help with Ron. I've been looking to expand my collection in regard to 'sidemen' who I know from dozens of albums from the Big Boys like Miles and Hancock etc and Ron has been on my list for a long time. Time to dive in I think!

So I'd like to ask, where would you start? Or, your opinion on any essential albums?

Thanks!

In my experience, you "run into" Ron Carter. I have tons of jazz albums that he is on. It may be best to do some research, like wikipedia or something. Do make sure you have all the Miles second great quintet albums

js wrote: All of the Miles quintet albums are great, but the ones before Miles started getting the rock pulse seem to show off Carter's skills the best, "Scorcer", "Nefertiti" and "Water Babies"  show Carter's ability to juggle several meters and accents as he is the lynch pin between William's abstract beats and the soloists free excursions. I also like a lot of Carter's semi commercial work on tons of early 70s CTI albums, back when pop jazz was still treated as an art and not just cookie cutter music.

Excellent, thanks, John - I've been looking to pick up Nefertiti at least, for a while actually, will go there soon. Actually - his work as a leader is where I'd like to explore, I'll check out the CTI. Done a bit of reading about his work there and that might be where I'll start.

darkshade wrote: In my experience, you "run into" Ron Carter. I have tons of jazz albums that he is on. It may be best to do some research, like wikipedia or something. Do make sure you have all the Miles second great quintet albums

Yes! He's kinda everywhere - 2,500 sessions or so, according to wiki. Wow indeed. Cool, thank you - still missing a couple of the Second Quintet, so will end up polishing that collection off soon. Any thoughts on Carter as a leader?

Kazuhiro wrote: I think that quintet and VSOP of Miles Davis serve as a reference. Or, "Third Plane" can be recommended as a subjective opinion.

Thanks, Kazuhiro - I will have to finish off the VSOP stuff too - and thanks for the 'Third Plane' tip - Williams and Hancock on that one too, I see. Sounds tops!

Try this album


One of my favorite trio albums

^ The second great quintet is my favorite era of Miles before 1969. Besides having that all-star cast (when didn't he?), the atmosphere on all the albums is exquisite. One cannot get more Ron Carter stuff without making sure they have all the Miles stuff first.

All Blues is worth trying

if you like latin jazz, try this one

^ you can try and find them on the net, give them a listen and decide in which ones to invest

darkshade wrote: idlero wrote: ^ you can try and find them on the net, give them a listen and decide in which ones to invest I'm sure there's lots of stuff on Youtube, but let's not mention other "ways" on this thread.

Yeah. I will do some listening on youtube, but not much, as it can sometimes spoil the experience of an album for me. I usually read up on an album, reviews and history etc, get some advice, and then take the plunge and just order it.  It makes it more exciting, more of an event, when an album arrives if I haven't actually heard too much of it.

I always have to listen before a purchase.Excepting EST there is no artist/band that I like all his/it's releases