REGINA CARTER.Byline: -- Fred Shuster Renowned jazz violinist Regina Carter Regina Carter (b. 1966) is an American jazz violinist. Carter was born in Detroit, Michigan, and began as a classical violinist but became increasingly interested in jazz , and is considered one of the finest violinists in the genre. just laughs when told fiddle players simply can't ``comp'' -- play accompaniment -- like pianists and guitarists do. ``I should get my ruler,'' she says in the stern tones of a schoolteacher ready to redden red·den v. red·dened, red·den·ing, red·dens v.tr. To make red. v.intr. 1. To become red. 2. To blush. a student's knuckles. ``We can play two notes together just like those other instruments.'' Of course, she's right. But somehow, when one thinks of the Detroit-born, classically trained Carter's fiery, hard-swinging solos, you don't imagine her playing second fiddle second fiddle n. Informal 1. A secondary role. 2. One who plays a secondary role. second fiddle Noun Informal a person who has a secondary status Noun to anyone. Carter is a one-off, a virtuoso able to border both the classical and jazz realms, an African-American woman playing jazz on violin when few musicians in the entire genre claim the instrument. ``People still come up to me after a concert and say, `Wow! I've never heard a violin in jazz, but I like it,' '' said Carter, 40, who studied at the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music New England Conservatory of Music, at Boston, Mass.; coeducational; est. 1867, chartered and opened 1870. It is closely associated with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood. in Boston before launching her first band. ``It's an instrument the jazz world doesn't embrace like it does the piano or guitar. I mean, how many jazz violinists are headlining concerts and making records?'' Sunday, Carter appears at the Playboy Jazz Festival The Playboy Jazz Festival is an annual event sponsored by Playboy Enterprises to celebrate jazz as well as feature both established and up and coming musicians of the genre. It was founded by Hugh Hefner and was first held in Chicago, Illinois at the Chicago Stadium in 1959. as part of Latin-jazz piano great Eddie Palmieri's Afro-Caribbean Jazz All-Stars, which also features guest saxophonist David Sanchez. Although it'll be the ensemble's first gig, Carter cameoed on Palmieri's current ``Listen Here!'' album, which won a Grammy Award in February. Speaking of her work on the blistering opening track, ``In Flight,'' Palmieri said: ``I wasn't aware Regina had played Latin music with charanga cha·ran·ga n. A style of popular Cuban dance music characterized by the use of violins and flutes along with percussion instruments, piano, bass, and vocals. bands. She blew the piece away.'' Carter's just-issued sixth solo effort, ``I'll Be Seeing You: A Sentimental Journey A Sentimental Journey is the nineteenth episode of the popular 1969 ITC British television series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) starring Mike Pratt, Kenneth Cope and Annette Andre. The episode was first broadcast on 16 January 1969 on the ITV. Directed by Jeremy Summers. ,'' is a touching tribute to her late mom, featuring such standards as ``A-Tisket, A-Tasket'' and ``St. Louis Blues.'' The loss was so upsetting, Carter almost gave up music. ``It was difficult figuring out what I wanted to play or if I even wanted to play at all anymore,'' she said. ``After some soul searching, I thought, `Let me honor her by doing some of the tunes she loved.' '' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: no caption (Regina Carter) |
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