Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes

This soundtrack to a recent documentary on the world’s most recorded bassist finds Carter interacting with Germany’s WDR Big Band, guitarists Bill Frisell and Russell Malone, fellow bassists Christian McBride and Stanley Clarke, and pianists Renee Rosnes and Jon Batiste. Produced and directed by Peter Schnall for his Partisan Pictures, the accompanying soundtrack was issued as a CD/double-vinyl recording by the Germany-based In+Out Records. Most affecting here are a majestic interpretation by the WDR of Carter’s “Doom Mood” (titled simply “Mood” on Miles Davis’ 1965 classic, E.S.P.) and a tender performance of “Flamenco Sketches” (from 1959’s Kind of Blue) by Carter’s working quartet of Rosnes, tenor saxophonist Jimmy Greene, and drummer Payton Crossley. Clarke kicks it on electric bass with Carter and guitarist Malone on Milt Jackson’s “Bag’s Groove,” and Frisell joins the bass great for an intimate duet on Gershwin’s “My Man’s Gone Now.” The album closes on a jaunty note with an impromptu duet reading of “Sweet Lorraine” by the 85-year-old bassist and 34-year-old pianist Batiste. Given the different venues between 2014 and 2021, the sound quality varies from track to track. But the spirit is strong throughout.