Ron Carter

Origin

Ferndale, MI

Years Active

1960

Genres

jazz, bossa nova, MPB

Instruments

double bass, cello

Biography

Ron Carter is a renowned American double bassist and cellist whose unique talent and expressiveness have made him one of the most sought-after studio musicians in jazz history. Born in Ferndale, Michigan, Carter has built a monumental artistic career that includes collaborations with major international names, as well as significant and striking immersions in Brazilian music throughout his career.

Throughout his vast discography, Carter has established deep connections with the music of Brazil, participating in fundamental albums and collaborating with iconic Brazilian artists such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Hermeto Pascoal, Airto Moreira, Dom Um Romão, Eumir Deodato, Miúcha, and Rosa Passos. His ability to move fluidly between North American jazz and complex Brazilian harmonies and rhythms has enriched classic records and consolidated his importance in spreading the country's sound abroad.

In addition to his work on stage and in the studio, Ron Carter has dedicated decades to music education, having served as a professor at the City College of New York and received honorary degrees from prestigious institutions such as the Berklee College of Music. His work remains an essential reference for bassists worldwide, celebrated both for his innovations on the acoustic bass and for his versatility across multiple genres.

Discography

• Eric Dolphy, Ron Carter – Untitled (1960)
• Don Sleet With Jimmy Heath / Wynton Kelly / Jimmy Cobb / Ron Carter – All Members (1961)
• Ron Carter With Eric Dolphy, Mal Waldron – Where? (1962)
• Bob Brookmeyer And Friends (1965)
• Don Heckman | Ed Summerlin Improvisational Jazz Workshop Featuring Ron Carter | Steve Kuhn – Jax Or Bettor (1968)
• Rosko, Ron Carter, James Spaulding – Robert Scheer's A Night At Santa Rita (1969)
• Uptown Conversation (1970)
• Blues Farm (1973)
• Alone Together (1973)
• All Blues (1974)
• Freddie Hubbard / Stanley Turrentine With Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Jack DeJohnette, Eric Gale – In Concert Volume One (1974)
• Herbie Hancock / Freddie Hubbard / Stanley Turrentine / Ron Carter / Jack DeJohnette / Eric Gale – In Concert Volume Two (1974)
• Funkia (1974)
• Anything Goes (1975)
• Spanish Blue (1975)
• Michel Legrand Featuring Phil Woods With Ron Carter, Grady Tate And George Davis – Recorded Live At Jimmy's (1975)
• Yellow & Green (1976)
• Ron Carter Quartet = ロン・カーター – Piccolo = ピッコロ (1977)
• Pastels (1977)
• A Song For You (1978)
• Red Garland / Ron Carter / Philly Joe Jones – Crossings (1978)
• Ron Carter = ロン・カーター ウィズ ハービー・ハンコック & トニー・ウイリアムス – Third Plane = サード・プレイン (1978)
• McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, Ron Carter, Al Foster – Milestone Jazzstars In Concert (1978)
• Peg Leg (1978)
• Third Plane (1978)
• 1 + 3 (1979)
• Attila Zoller, Ron Carter, Joe Chambers – Common Cause (1979)
• New York Slick (1979)
• Parade (1979)
• Milestone Jazzstars In Concert (Live At The Milestone Jazzstars Fall American Tour, USA / September - October 1978) (1979)
• Jimmy Ponder, Ron Carter, Ben Green – I Giganti Del Jazz Vol. 28 (1980)
• Pick 'Em (1980)
• Joe Henderson • Chick Corea • Ron Carter • Billy Higgins – Mirror, Mirror (1980)
• Empire Jazz (1980)
• Philippe Sarde Interprété Par Ron Carter, Buster Williams Et Le London Symphony Orchestra – Le Choix Des Armes (Bande Originale Du Film) (1981)
• Herbie Hancock Trio With Ron Carter + Tony Williams (1981)
• Super Strings (1981)
• Patrão (1981)
• Guy Fricano, Cedar Walton And Ron Carter – The New York Sessions (1981)
• Jimmy Smith Featuring George Benson, Ron Carter, Grady Tate, Stanley Turrentine – Off The Top (1982)
• Ron Carter, Hank Jones, Sadao Watanabe, Tony Williams – Carnaval (1983)
• Etudes (1983)
• The Master Trio (1983)
• Carnval (1983)
• Cedar Walton, Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette – The All American Trio (1984)
• Michel Sardaby Featuring Ron Carter – Voyage (1984)
• The Master Trio Featuring Tommy Flanagan, Ron Carter, Tony Williams – Blues In The Closet (1984)
• Bud Shank And The Rhythm Section Of Ron Carter, Kenny Barron, Al Foster – This Bud's For You... (1985)
• Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Freddie Hubbard, James Newton, Tony Williams – Town Hall Concert (1985)
• The Man With The Bass (1985)
• Joe Farrell Randy Brecker Together (1985)
• Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, Michael Moore – 1+1+1 (1986)
• Ron Carter = ロン・カーター – The Puzzle = パズル (1986)
• Very Well (1987)
• Ron Carter = ロン・カーター – Plays Bach = プレイズ・バッハ (1987)
• Cedar Walton Plays (1987)
• Ron Carter, Lili Boulanger – La Passion Béatrice (1987)
• Ron Carter Presents Eric Gale – In A Jazz Tradition (1988)
• Harumi Kaneko - Ron Carter – I'm Walkin' (1988)
• All Alone (1988)
• Ron Carter Presents Dado Moroni (1988)
• Helen Merrill + Ron Carter – Duets (1989)
• James Spaulding, Wallace Roney, Ron Carter, Kenny Washington, Mulgrew Miller – Brilliant Corners (1989)
• Ron Carter, Don Sickler – Birdology - Live At The TBB Jazzz Festival (1989)
• Heart & Soul (1989)
• Houston Person, Ron Carter – Something In Common (1990)
• New York Reunion (1991)
• Ron Carter Meets Bach (1992)
• Jazz, My Romance (1994)
• LOVE, CARNIVAL AND DREAMS (1994)
• Mr. Bow-tie (1995)
• Vision Quest (1998)
• air (2000)
• Stardust (2001)
• Holiday in Rio (2001)
• 4 Generations of Miles (2002)
• Dialogues (2002)
• Entre Amigos (2003)
• In New York (2005)
• Dear Miles (2007)
• Just Between Friends (2008)
• Ron Carter's Great Big Band (2011)
• This Is Jazz (2011)
• Far-Faraway (2012)
• Pannonica (2013)
• コットンクラブでカクテルを (Live) (2013)
• ジム・ホールの想い出 (2014)
• Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio "Live in Studio" (feat. Ron Carter & Kenny Barron) (2015)
• My Personal Songbook (2016)
• Chemistry (2016)
• We'll Be Together Again (2016)
• Golden Striker (2017)
• Golden Striker (Live at Theaterstübchen Kassel) (2017)
• An Evening With (Live at the Theaterstübchen, Kassel) (2017)
• Remember Love (2018)
• Foursight - Stockholm, Vol. 1 (2019)
• The Brown Beatnik Tomes (Live At BRIC House) (2019)
• Foursight - Stockholm, Vol. 2 (2020)
• Remembering Bob Freedman (2021)
• Skyline (2021)
• Parfait (2021)
• Foursight - The Complete Stockholm Tapes (2021)
• Ron Carter & Art Farmer: Live At Sweet Basil (2021)
• Finding the Right Notes (2022)
• Grand Company (2023)
• Bitter Head (2023)
• Duets (2026)
• Sweet, Sweet Spirit (2026)