Whatever happened to James Carter?

[ghost of miles]

I pulled out CHASIN' THE GYPSY the other day for a show & realized I haven't heard much about him in the past couple of years. Is he still on Sony? He did that Pavement tribute and an organ-trio record, but his profile seems to have dropped somewhat... I know some viewed him as the Great Hope and others as the Great Hype back in the day (mid-1990s); I'll confess to being a fan who's lost track the past several years (never have checked out the Holiday tribute, which might be really good, for all I know... just put off by the concept, which has been done to death & seemed like a label idea). Any news on what he might be up to these days? His Sony site looks dormant.

Edited May 7, 2007 by ghost of miles

[sal]

I think he still might be gigging around with the organ trio. Saw them play about a year ago....didn't care for them too much. He's a fine player, though.

[Hot Ptah]

He made the Live At Baker's Keyboard Lounge album with many guests sitting in, and an organ trio album, and that's all I have heard from him lately on the recording front.

Live, I am disappointed at what I have heard. In the spring of 1996 I saw him with an acoustic piano trio and he was nearly great. He was a torrent of energy and played with a lot of ideas and spark to his playing. When I have seen him in recent years, he has been much more routine, playing pipe and slippers acoustic jazz, with an occasional special effect thrown in to make everyone shriek with surprise. What a bringdown.

[kh1958]

I saw him at Birdland last October--he was playing with his organ trio. I thought he was in excellent form--I really enjoyed the two sets I heard.

[jazzbo]

I LIKE the Holiday tribute. (And the Baker's Keyboard Lounge, great stuff!)

Would be glad to see some new material on cd!

[mikeweil]

I'd say he's a victim of the major labels' contract policies, and perhaps pissed off a little by them.

[Hot Ptah]

I saw him at Birdland last October--he was playing with his organ trio. I thought he was in excellent form--I really enjoyed the two sets I heard.

That's really good to hear.

[RDK]

Yeah, saw him last summer (?) with his organ trio.

[Jim Alfredson]

A good friend from Detroit, Gerard Gibbs, is the organist in his band and is a seriously bad mofo (tutored by Groove Holmes).

[chris olivarez]

I believe he played the recently concluded Jazz Fest with his organ trio.

[jlhoots]

I LIKE the Holiday tribute. (And the Baker's Keyboard Lounge, great stuff!)

Would be glad to see some new material on cd!

Geez Lon.

I thought I was the only one who liked those two.

[brownie]

He played at Carnegie Hall last month: Gardenias for Lady Day

[sidewinder]

He also did a great Don Byas tribute gig with the Dutch Metropole Orchestra last August at the Northsea Festival.

[CJ Shearn]

I have been considering his organ trio album, but a lot of opinions here and elsewhere mostly say it's a dud.

[mikeweil]

Yeah, saw him last summer (?) with his organ trio.

Same here - but I had the impression that his two sidemen weren't really a challenge for him.

[John L]

I didn't care for the Lady Day tribute, and am luke warm on the Baker's Lounge recording. But I thought that Layin' in the Cut was the BOMB.

[Cyril]

He's playing in Amsterdam, May 16, with his Organ Trio

[Joe G]

Lucky him!!

[Jim Alfredson]

He's playing in Amsterdam, May 16, with his Organ Trio

Ha, Randy was talking about that place with this nice woman at a cafe that served us breakfast. Cool!

[king ubu]

He's playing here with the organ trio on Thursday - should I check him out? I've never been too much of a fan, but then I can imagine him being a pretty good live act... (I found the "Baker's Keyboard Lounge" guests parade a very boring disc...)

On the plus side: I don't think I *ever* actually saw an all hammond concert (seen concerts where keyboarders changed between grand piano, organ, rhoder, wurlitzer, etc, but never just a band with organ...)

[Bluerein]

Saw him at the The Hague JAzz Festival last friday and kinda liked his playing. Only the drummer (don't know his name) ruined the date for me. Stiff and not up to the other 2's standards imo.

[king ubu]

Thanks for your report, Reinier - I think I'll make my mind up depending on the mood a few hours before the concert...

[Claude]

Saw him at the The Hague JAzz Festival last friday and kinda liked his playing. Only the drummer (don't know his name) ruined the date for me. Stiff and not up to the other 2's standards imo.

Was it Leonard King (the drummer announced for the concert in Zurich)?

http://www.leonardkingdrums.com

http://www.aiartists.com/jcarter/performances.htm

Edited May 22, 2007 by Claude

[king ubu]

seems so, the whole JC tour is listed in the itinerary on King's website... he's been the drummer of the JC organ trio for several years, it seems.

[Bluerein]

Yes it's him. I recognise his picture. Poor students who have to "learn" something from him.