Listening to Prestige 469: Ron Carter

This is Ron Carter's debut as a leader, but he had already begun to make a considerable name for himself as a skilled and original bassist who could play in almost any context. He had already appeared on six sessions for Prestige alone, and had showed his prowess on the cello in one of those sessions, with Eric Dolphy. Dolphy was just coming into his own at this juncture, and he would be bound to come in for a large share of the attention any time he appeared on a session (some later reissues bill this as an Eric Dolphy album), but Carter has the presence to justify his billing as leader, including two tracks where Dolphy sits out.

"Bass Duet," as advertised, is exactly that, featuring Carter on pizzicato cello and George Duvivier on bass, counterpointing each other with shifting tempos and melodic lines. "Where?",  a Randy Weston composition, features Carter's bowed cello and Mal Waldron's moody piano.

"Saucer Eyes" is another Weston composition, one that's been in the repertory of a number of groups. "Yes Indeed" is the Sy Oliver gospel-tinged rhythm and blues classic that's probably best known in the 1958 rendition by Ray Charles, and you can almost hear the call-and-response as you listen to Carter and Dolphy.

The Sigmund Romberg melody, "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise," has Carter soloing on bowed bass and accompanying Dolphy pizzicato. They take a lot of adventurous liberties with the old operetta aria, and they make it all work. And this is as good a place as any to mention Charlie Persip's drumming, which adds so much to the session, but is particularly striking here.

"Rally" is a Carter composition and a powerful showcase for everyone involved in the session. Carter is on cello, so George Duvivier gets in on the action. Mal Waldron has solo space, and I've certainly had plenty of occasion to write about how highly I regard Waldron, as this is his 33rd Prestige session. My only regret is that none of his original compositions are featured here.

Esmond Edwards produced for New Jazz. The album was titled Where?