 |  |  | Welcome!
| In 2005, Ron Carter, the world’s most respected jazz bassist, tapped me to write his biography.
Join me as I embark on telling Ron’s remarkable story that pivots on an early experience in the '50s when as an aspiring classical cellist/bassist, his dream was crushed when renowned conductor Leopold Stokowski told him that symphony “audiences are not ready for black players.” Rather than dwell in defeat, Ron chose to focus on jazz bass and went on to become the innovator who Miles Davis dubbed as the “anchor” of his classic ‘60s quintet. Today, Ron reigns as the most recorded bassist in popular music history—as well as one of jazz's most esteemed artists.
Rather than approach... Read More >> | | |
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 |  |  | | | |  | Other Participant Offers | | In addition to Executive Publisher, there are a variety of corporate and individual opportunies to help support the project. New individual offers are now available at the Participant Offers link. Included is the Silver Participant, which features a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ask Ron questions that he will respond to and that I will deliver to you on a CD. |  | |
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| | | | | | |  | Thanks for Tuning In! | | Thank you for tuning in to the Ron Carter biography project that's unfolding online. This biography is the first of its kind: a traditional book-in-print (to be published in 2008) that’s enriched by this website that offers a host of online experiences. Here you will find a sampling of video footage, audio interviews, photo galleries, journal entries on the creative process in writing the biography and a radio station of selected interviews. By participating in the project, you’ll be kept up to date while receiving more exclusive insider looks into Ron's life--via photos, interviews, behind-the-scenes videos that will be available on a regular basis. Click on Participant Offers to see how you can become part of the project team. |  | |
|  | New Radio Podcast Interviews | Click on RADIO to hear some new podcast interviews, including Ron talking his days in Miles' band.
New radio:
• Ron on using pedal tones in Miles' quintet
• Ron saves Miles' life at 20 Grand in Detroit
• Ron talks about early days in Rochester with Chuck Mangione
• Kenny Barron talks about Ron | | |
| |  | Stuart Brinin Photo Gallery | This is not Ron Carter. No way. It is Diana Krall, who made a rare club appearance at Yoshi's in Oakland, Calif., in June 2007. Ace photographer Stuart Brinin was there and snapped this shot. Consider this photo a space holder for Stu's upcoming exhibit of Ron Carter images. It is superb. Coming soon!
Note: Reproduction or use of all photographs on this website is strictly prohibited without the consent of the photographers. All photographs are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws. | | |
|  | Journal 1: Project Initiation & Reflections, Part 1 | (photo: Ron Carter at Tribeca Performance Center; photo credit: Dan Ouellette)
In 2005 Ron Carter asked me if I'd be interested in writing his biography. Today (July 17, 2006) I break ground. I am finally committing to yellow-pad paper my first words in writing. I’m sitting in Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, near my gate for my return trip to JFK Airport in New York from the North Sea Jazz Festival where I did a live DownBeat Blindfold Test with trumpeter Chris Botti.
In the background is the repetitive rhythm of the female computerized voice, “Mind your step,” | | |
|  | Journal 2: Project initiation & Reflection, Part 2 | photo: Ron Carter at IAJE, 2007 (photo credit: Evantheia Schibsted)
continued from Journal 1
So I emailed David Dunton, the book agent who worked with a couple of friends, Ashley Kahn and Michelle Mercer, on their jazz-related books. I asked David to represent me. It took him nearly a week to respond. “Dan, this is a great idea,” he emailed me, “and I wish you the best, but the reality is that books on jazz sell about as many copies as jazz records.” Read: not a big enough volume to make a book agent’s day. | | |
|  | Video: Ron playing with Christian McBride | | In the second video link for the Robert Altman film of musical excerpts from his feature film "Kansas City," Ron performs a bass duo with Christian McBride. The credits roll as the two play. Courtesy of Bruce Ricker, Rhapsody Films. | | |
| | | |  | Audio: Ron talks about his artwork | | The first thing you notice when you come into Ron's apartment home on Manhattan's Upper West Side is the amazing artwork. Ron talks a bit about some of the art. | | |
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