Ron Carter's crazy cello playing on "Beyond the Blue Horizon&

[CJ Shearn]

I love this album, but what is up with Carter's wack cello on this? its obviously badly intonated and does not seem to fit always, anyone know whose suggestion it was he play cello on this session?

[7/4]

I haven't hear this one, but maybe it's more of his work with 1/4 tones like his recordings with Eric Dolphy?

[7/4]

....and maybe not. You talkin' 'bout a George Benson album?

[CJ Shearn]

yeppers

[JohnS]

I'll have to dig this one out and give it a spin. Don't recall anything much about it.

[Big Al]

Yeah, it can be pretty annoying. Especially on "Ode to a Kudu." It sounds like a dying foghorn.

[JSngry]

Some things defy any rational explanation.

Ron Carter's consistently inconsistent intonation is one of them.

[Big Al]

For the longest time, I thought it was an accordion.

[Noj]

I like "The Gentle Rain" and "Somewhere In The East" on this one. I'm pretty sure there were some odd noises in the other tracks which kept them off the iPod.

[CJ Shearn]

yes, they are some very odd noises there. I had to get the remastered UK version because the US one just went OOP for some weird reason.

[clifford_thornton]

Some things defy any rational explanation.

Ron Carter's consistently inconsistent intonation is one of them.

You think this goes for his bass playing as well as his cello?

I've never been much a fan of his bass playing, but if you asked me why, I might have a tough time coming up with a precise answer. Guess it's my job to, though.

[J Larsen]

I prefer RC without a bow in his hand.

[DMP]

People with better ears than mine think he plays out of tune.

[Chuck Nessa]

Benny Carter went out of his way to ask me not to hire him for a gig. He said "I'm sure your selections will be fine - just don't hire Ron Carter".

I know I've told this story a couple times before, but I never tire of it.

Edited December 20, 2006 by Chuck Nessa

[Harold_Z]

Benny Carter went out of his way to ask me not to hire him for a gig. He said "I'm sure your selections will be fine - just don't hire Ron Carter".

I know I've told this story a couple times before, but I never tire of it.

I wonder if it was his playing or his attitude that turned Benny off.

Or both.

Edit to add: I dig Ron's playing in spite of his sometime intonation problems. He has great time and comes up with good lines, etc.

Edited December 20, 2006 by Harold_Z

[Big Al]

I enjoy his bass playing; not a fan of his cello playing. What's his attitude like?

[Guest the mommy]

i think i have mentioned this before but ron carter played in my parents suburban new jersey town at the local community center. no idea how they got him to do it but a lot of jazz musicians live in the town so i guess there are connections (saw jackie mclean, phil woods, john faddis, billy drummond and others at the local middle school, for instance) but anyway carter played w. i think it was tony reedus and james williams for i guess there was about 18-25 people there and afterwards my friend who i went with who was a jazz studies major went up to carter (and you must understand this is a mellow scene in a room at the small local community center with a small amount of local people there) and i guess my friend wanted to ask him a few friendly questions and carter blew him off and refused to give a second to talk to a young jazz musician. i guess it wasn't a big deal but it seemed like a dick move. my friend was totally respectful and being a jazz musician himself, admired and respected carter.

my dad has great ears and always complains that carter is out of tune when listening to any of his fantasy stuff (especially on picolo bass). but then again, my dad seems to have bought all of these albums on LP back in the day (the ones w. barron and buster and riley) so it must not have bothered him too much. he even has a tape of "peg leg".

Edited December 20, 2006 by the mommy

[PHILLYQ]

A buddy of mine took a couple of classes from Ron Carter at City College in NYC. My buddy, who is as easygoing as they come, thought Carter was tough and at times nasty to the students.

[marcello]

At a recording session Ron was being asked questions by someone while he was getting things together and setting up when the fellow said: "Ron, can I help you; are you looking for something?". Ron said; " YES, SOME PRIVACY!"

[CJ Shearn]

oh man, that's harsh. I dig Ron's playing too but the intonation stuff really tends to come out on like "Beyond the Blue Horizon" or Tony Williams "Foreign Intrigue" or those Japan only Herbie trio recordings

[marcello]

Ron's playing on those Cedar Walton Sweet Basil recordings are the best!