The fact that 87 year old Maestro bassist Ron Carter has named his quartet “Foresight” is about all you need to consider when taking in the95 minutes of America’s greatest export. In front of a packed house which included the likes of fellow bassist Stanley Clarke, the Maestro delivered a symphonic like collection of songs that embodied the name of the band in terms of interplay and interpretation.
For the first time in many a year, Carter came to LA not in a trio format, but along with longtime pianist Donald Vega, he added drummer Payton Crossley and tenor saxist Jimmy Greene to replace guitarist Russell Malone, recently departed to glory.
The addition of Crossley was palpable from the get-go, has his brushes danced along the cymbals like Ginger Rogers to the Fred Astaire-like gliding of Carter on the rich and lovely pulse of “595” with Greene blowing rich smoke rings. Vega brought in some classy swing as Carter and Crossley popped the clutch on the sleek samba of “Mr. Bow Tie” with a mix of sensuality and fun. Greene and Carter dug in and cruised like a V8 Buick Roadmaster on a bouncy take of the classic “Seven Steps To Heaven” with Crossley’s sticks as crisp as snow peas. Changing gears like a Maserati, Vegas and Carter produced a slinky shuffle to the lovely impressionistic read of the Iberian “Flamenco Sketches” with Greene sighing in dreamy fashion and Carter playing his bass like a fado guitarist
Opening with a killer joe of a piano lick, Vegas gave a gospel sermon on the opening to an autumn leaves toned “Saguaro” that featured the Maestro sliding along the strings like Ricky Henderson, producing a red licorice whip of a tone, leading into a duet between the two of “My Funny Valentine/Darn That Dream” the was a glorious rubato of rumination. Mr. Carter then gave a well tempered aria tat went from traditional Americana in “You Are My Sunshine” to dashes of Back that, like the performer, was both majestic and inspiring.
Closing with a bold and confident “You and the Night and the Music” that was taken that was taken into the land of double time, along with a double time plus that sprinted to the finish line, Maestro Carter showed that just as things like faith, hope and charity last into eternity, so does the beauty of art well done with grace. At 87, the renowned bassist still shows that, in more ways than one, the best is yet to come.
Upcoming shows at Catalina’s include Poncho Sanchez 04/11-12, Cybill Shepherd 04/18-19 and Jon Faddis 04/25-26