How Ron Carter found his gospel notes
The world recognized Ron Carter as the most recorded jazz bassist, a title earned over eleven years of groundbreaking work. Yet, even with such a monumental legacy, the question of his next musical venture remains an open one. Some might expect a quiet retirement, but Carter, known for chasing the perfect note, opted instead for a collaboration that took him far outside his traditional comfort zone.
When asked about his next project, Carter revealed he had been contemplating a deeply personal endeavor: making a public version of the private hymn recordings he had made for his mother during her final days. This emotional pursuit led him down a fascinating path, prompting him to team up with Ricky Dillard, the respected leader of the 80-voice New-G choir.
This collaboration immediately presented a unique set of creative hurdles. Carter faced the challenge of blending the deeply resonant, spiritual sound of a gospel choir with the foundational pulse of a jazz bass, all while ensuring the bass voice remained palpable and distinct, rather than being swallowed by the powerful choral arrangements.
The resulting work, the album Sweet, Sweet Spirit”>Sweet, Sweet Spirit, is a testament to this delicate balance. Whether tackling rousing roof raisers like “Open My Eyes” or more rhythmically nuanced pieces such as “Pass Me Not,” Carter’s bass lines move with an almost elastic grace, pulsing as clearly as a vein in a well-flexed arm.
For Carter, the journey was less about imposing a challenge and more about discovery. While he didn’t seek to issue a riddle of “Find Waldo,” he found that the process yielded something remarkable. In a recent documentary, the 84-year-old bassist reflected that his lifelong pursuit of musical perfection continued.
“I’m not sure what I want to do other than keep looking for the right notes,” he shared. “I know I’ve found some, but there’s some more available to me, some other combination of notes that I haven’t discovered.”
And in the context of his new project, Carter found that the collaboration provided those very special notes he was searching for, proving that sometimes the most profound musical discoveries happen when you venture into uncharted territory.
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