Chasin' the Gypsy

[Bright Moments]

I picked up this puppy in the "just in" bin at my local used cd store and it BLEW ME AWAY!!!

James Carter's tribute to Django is INCREDIBLE!!!! On this cd he plays 4 different sax's: bass, tenor, soprano, and something called a "f mezzo saxaphone."

Regina Carter on violin is SUPERB!!

Jay Berliner & Romero Lubambo (both of whom are new to me) are excellent on guitar (steel string & nylon), as is Charlie Giordano on accordian.

Do Not Wait! Get yourself a copy of this cd NOW!!!!!! B)

[jazzbo]

I agree, this is a very good cd, and probably my favorite of Carter's.

[John L]

I like this one too. But my favorite James Carter CD by far is the one he released simultaneously with this one: Layin' in the Cut. I wish that Carter would do more of this kind of electric funk stuff. He is amazing in this territory, and his inclination for excess is put to good use.

By contrast, I didn't care for the new one, Gardenias for Lady Day. It sounds to me like an overproduced overdose of overdubbing.

[Dr. Rat]

I like this one too. But my favorite James Carter CD by far is the one he released simultaneously with this one: Layin' in the Cut. I wish that Carter would do more of this kind of electric funk stuff. He is amazing in this territory, and his inclination for excess is put to good use.

By contrast, I didn't care for the new one, Gardenias for Lady Day. It sounds to me like an overproduced overdose of overdubbing.

Re: Layin' in the Cut. I wish he'd do some in the pocket music in this style--I found some of the stuff on the Cut to be a bit, umm, abrasive yet forgettable, which is a bad combo in my book.

Maybe he could guest with our proprietors on their next one?

--eric

[.:.impossible]

I was doing a search for some discussion on James Carter, specifically Layin' In the Cut. I know we've discussed this album in more depth here before.

"Drafadelic in Db" came up on my playlist today and I knew immediately who it was. I haven't pulled this disc out in a LONG time. This track is a great representation of what James Carter does. I know there is a lot of disappointment in him. I can't find much discussion for some reason, but remember reading people's opinions that he never did rise to the occassion that everyone thought he could rise to. This is a track where he does, I think, and his playing is much deeper than a bag of tricks. Varying intonation, phrasing, technique, note choice, understated ideas, it is all there. This track, for whatever reason, seems to stick out for me, and made me want to bring it to y'all's attention. Take a listen and let me know what you think.

[kh1958]

He doesn't disappoint me. His best recordings (in my opinion) are Chasin' the Gypsy, Layin' in the Cut, Live at Baker's Lounge, and (under the leadership of Ronald Shannon Jackson), What Spirit Say.

[The Rep]

You are right he does not disappoint. I like the majority of his recordings but this album is special if only for useing that fruity bass sax for melody. Oh! the sound on "I'll Never Be The Same".

[Bright Moments]

JC is one of the best we've got right now! i would love to see him live. anybody know where he plays?

[kinuta]

I really like ' Chasin' The Gypsy'. It stands up well to repeat listenings.

I can't say I'm as enthusiastic about some of his other cds. 'JC On The The Set' and 'Live At Baker's Lounge' are the two I like best. ' Layin' In The Cut' is very good in parts but shall I say lacking in cohesion.

[.:.impossible]

I've felt like cohesion is what James Carter's recordings lack, as a whole. This is one reason why I posted about the particular track on LAYIN' IN THE CUT. Very cohesive.

[jazzmessenger]

I also like "Chasin' the Gypsy" very much. It is probably his best effort. I think "Jurrasic Classics" has to be one of his best, too.

[sheldonm]

JC is one of the best we've got right now! i would love to see him live. anybody know where he plays?

I saw him in Chicago a few weeks ago and was rather dissapointed. Although the guy has the chops and can pretty much play what he wants, what he's playing (as a leader), I'm not sure I want to hear. I think to this day, he is out to prove he can play and wants to show it on e...v...e...r...y..........s....i....n....g....l....e.......n....o....t....e! He had congo player Juna Santos with him who I enjoyed!!!

Also saw James with the Newport All-Stars two years ago and loved him! Most of his recordings are hit and miss with me. I just want him to PLAY!!!

m~

[Dave James]

I'm pretty sure "Layin' in the Cut" and "Chasin' the Gypsy" are the only two Carter CD's I own. Very different, but I like 'em both. My only complaint is that they could have used a keyboard of some kind (preferably acoustic piano) on the former. I saw Carter's LitC band doing a couple of these tunes on BET with a piano and just one guitar and, at least IMO, it was a big improvement over the CD.

Carter is a prodigious talent. Sleldonm is right on the mark...there are few things he can't do. Why then, do people with his ability (and I'm not talking just about JC) feel they have to prove themselves to their audience every time they perform live? I mean, anyone with their head screwed half way on can see that they are the proud owners of monstrous and ungodly chops. Less fireworks and more subtlety says me.

Up over and out.

Edited April 14, 2006 by Dave James

[Dave James]

In the context of several posts on this thread, I came across an interesting quote in the April 10th issue of The New Yorker. It's from a piece in "The Talk of the Town" section called "Pinup Dept. Whipped Again". In it, Herb Alpert is talking about what he calls the "scarcity of restraint and feeling in jazz playing". He refers to a phone conversation he once had with Gerry Mulligan who had called Alpert upon his return from the first Clinton innaugural where he'd been asked to perform along with nine other saxophonists. Mulligan says:

"Man you know, these young guys, they know all the modes, they know all the chords, they can play high and low and fast, and they can do amazing things, but the one thing they don't know how to do is leave the bone alone."

Up over and out.