RON CARTER is among the most original, prolific, and influential bassists in jazz and has played on seminal albums in many other genres. He has recorded over 2200 albums, and has a Guinness world record to prove it! He continues to record. In 2026 he released a groundbreaking jazz/gospel hybrid album Sweet, Sweet Spirit with Ricky Dillard and New G.
In Jazz: From 1963 to 1968, he was a member of the acclaimed Miles Davis Quintet. He can be heard on many iconic jazz records of the 60's and 70's such as Speak No Evil, Maiden Voyage, Speak Like a Child, Red Clay to name a few.
In other music genres: After leaving the quintet he embarked on a prolific 50-year free-lance career that spanned
vastly different music genres and continues to this day. He recorded with Roberta Flack and Aretha Franklin, with Gil Scott Heron on Pieces of a Man, appeared on the seminal hip-hop album Low End Theory with a Tribe Called Quest, played on albums by Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Paul Simon and more and wrote and recorded pieces for string quartets and Bachchorales fo r2-8 basses.
As a leader: Carter has spent at least half the year on worldwide tours with his various groups. The Ron Carter Trio, The Ron Carter Foursight Quartet, the Ron Carter Nonet and Ron Carter’s Great Big Band. He has recorded multiple albums with his groups.
As an author: Carter shares his expertise in the series of books he authored, where he explains his creative
process and teaches bassists of all levels to improve their skills and develop their own unique sound. He also
penned his autobiography “Finding the Right Notes”.
Awards and Honorifics: He is a 3-time Grammy winner, was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays
with Rosette for his contributions to Japan-US relations, the medallion and title of Commander of the Order of Arts
and Letters by France, numerous MVP and Outstanding Bassist awards by the music press. He has 7 honorary doctorates from Juilliard, Berklee, University of Michigan, New England Conservatory, Clark University, Manhattan
School of Music, University of Rochester and Yale.
Film appearances: In October 2022 PBS released a full-length feature film documentary called Ron Carter Finding
the Right Notes about Carter’s life and legend. He appeared as himself on an episode of HBO’s
Treme and in Round Midnight, among others.
Photo credit: Pete Coco.
