Ron Carter Drops Two in August

In August two new Ron Carter titles will show up on store shelves. The first, The Golden Striker, comes from sessions the bassist did for Blue Note, his current label, that will be released August 19.

Striker is a trio date with straightahead band mates pianist Mulgrew Miller and guitarist Russell Malone. What we’re happy about is that the only bona fide standard on the disc is “Autumn Leaves,” the balance being mostly Carter compositions like “A Quick Sketch” and “N.Y.Slick.” Originals by Miller and Malone are also part of the nine-track program. The album’s title comes of course from the John Lewis song of the same name, which has appeared on many Modern Jazz Quartet albums over the years and serves as the lead track on the new Carter CD.

Carter sometimes livens his sound with a Brazilian thing, which we last heard on 2001’s When Skies Are Grey. On Entre Amigos, an album co-led with singer Rosa Passos, Carter keeps up the Brazilian vibe and covers Brazilian jazz classics like “Desafinado” and “Garota de Ipanema.” Chesky Records, an audiphile label, releases Amigos one week after Golden Stiker, on August 26.

Originally Published June 30, 2003