THE HANGOVER REPORT – Legendary bassist RON CARTER sublimely commences his Birdland residency with jazz guitarist Bill Frisell

Ron Carter and Bill Frisell at Birdland Jazz Club (photo by Adrian Dimanlig).

Last week, Ron Carter commenced his immensely popular annual month-long residency at Birdland Jazz Club. Each week over the course of October, the legendary jazz bassist will be performing four distinct sets with an array of notable jazz musicians, starting intimately as part of a duo (with Bill Frisell on October 8–11), building to a trio (with Donald Vega and Donald Harrison on October 5–18), then to a quartet (with Renee Rosnes, Jimmy Greene, and Payton Crossley on October 22–25), and ending the month off with a bang as part of a swinging great big band (on October 29–November 1).

The maestro’s concert last week with jazz guitarist Bill Frisell was nothing short of exceptional, a masterclass in sublime, elegant jazz musicianship. Both are true virtuosos of their respective instruments, playing with deep sensitivity and expressivity. Having played and recorded with each other many times over the years, there was an obvious sense of respect, comfort, and even playfulness during Saturday night’s collaboration. To be sure, it was a cozy night of music-making, and the sold out, uncharacteristically hushed Birdland audience (you could practically hear a pin drop) leaned in to savor each pluck.

Suffice to say, it was a pleasure to hear the duo’s refined playing in captivated and committed dialogue with on another, each drawing from decades of countless live shows and celebrated recordings. Keeping the banter to a minimum, they let the music do the talking. Some memorable highlights included the fascinating composition “Little Waltz” (a hyptnotic ode to preparatory etude exercises), a gently swinging “That’s Deep”, the introspectively bluesy “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”, a crowd-pleasing instrumental of “It Could Happen to You”, and the leave-them-wanting-more closer “Billie’s Bounce”.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

RON CARTER & BILL FRISELL DUO
Jazz
Birdland Jazz Club
1 hour, 15 minutes (without an intermission)
Ron Carter’s Birdland residency continues through November 1

Categories: Music, Other Music

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