For more than 40 years, Ron Carter's string work (acoustic bass, piccolo bass, or cello) has graced thousands of recordings in almost every idiom. Usually on other people's records, but also on your own work. On 1978's Pick 'Em and 1981's Super Strings, Carter leads a star line with Kenny Barron on piano. Pick 'Em ranges from a slightly slower-paced version of Miles Davis' All Blues to a skilfully
… overdubbed duet for bass and piccolo bass on the track B And A. And from the festive title track (featuring Hugh McCracken on harmonica) to the number Eight, an interpretation of John Coltrane's Impressions. 16 strings were added to Super Strings, with a clear affinity for jazz. There is also a clear variety on the songs of this album, such as the Latin jazz in the samba Bom Dia and the emotional ballad Don't Misunderstand by Gordon Parks. Although the two albums are not Carter's most important work, it is a pleasant CD, especially for fans of jazz in combination with (many) strings. (RM)more