Between 1995 and 2004, Detroit saxophonist
James Carter released several conceptual discs: a salute to
Django Reinhardt (
Chasin' the Gypsy), electric-era
Miles Davis (
Layin' in the Cut), jazz ballads (
Real Quiet Storm), and a lush
Billie Holiday tribute (Gardenias for Lady Day). With the release of each disc, the unavoidable question remained: would
Carter ever put out another straight-ahead session in the vein of his early-'90s recordings JC on the Set and Jurassic Classics? Happily,
Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge makes up for lost time.
Carter and an amazing array of musicians took flight for three nights in June 2001 at Baker's in Detroit, featuring guest appearances by
David Murray and
Johnny Griffin alongside fellow Motor City natives
Franz Jackson,
Kenny Cox,
Dwight Adams, Larry Smith, and
Gerard Gibbs. On this set
Carter frequently switches reeds, easily juggling tenor, soprano, and baritone saxophones, while his rock-solid rhythm section of bassist
Ralphe Armstrong and the split drumming duties of Leonard King and the late
Funk Brother Richard "Pistol" Allen (who passed away in 2002) keep the music simmering until the heat rises once again.
Carter's choice of cover material is impeccable and well balanced. Instead of lazily strolling through the same old tried and true standards and songbooks,
Carter and associates re-ignite tunes from the pen of
Oscar Pettiford ("Tricotism"),
Jimmy Forrest ("Soul Street"),
Eddie Harris ("Freedom Jazz Dance"), and
Don Byas ("Free and Easy"), before slowing the tempo on "I Can't Get Started," "Low Flame," and "Sack Full of Dreams," culminating with the four-tenor blowout of
George Duvivier's "Foot Pattin'." The only time the train jumps the tracks is during "Soul Street." Organist
Gibbs uses a synthesized, sampled vocal section that sounds like a mechanical
Swingle Singers. The technology itself may be intriguing, but the results are completely out of place in this context.
Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge finds
Carter cutting loose like a musician who's been conceptually sidetracked long enough. This is a back to basics blowing session and concepts be damned! ~ Al Campbell