Legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter inducted into Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The way he puts it, Ron Carter had some time to get “unlost.”

It was January 1970 and the jazz bassist was trying to find his way to Dix Hills, New York, just outside Manhattan, for a recording session with Alice Coltrane, pianist and wife of saxophonist John Coltrane.

“I don’t do a lot of driving outside Manhattan, so I got lost trying to find it,” Carter said from his home in New York. “I had some time to get unlost.”

Carter did finally find Coltrane’s home, the result being “Ptah, the El Daoud.”

“She welcomed me with open arms and said ‘Let’s get this party started,” he said.

Carter has countless stories like this, remembering decades of backing up some of the greatest artists in jazz on over 2,000 albums, performing with luminaries such as Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery, Cannonball Adderley, Roberta Flack and many others.

On Saturday, the bassist was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, marking a celebration of over 60 years as a performing musician.

Although he grew up in Detroit, Carter has strong ties to Alabama, starting with his mother, Willie, who was born in Lee County and grew up around Birmingham. However, he never had a chance to see his mother’s home as a child.

“I got no further south than Indiana, where my father grew up,” Carter said.

In the last few years, however, he’s learned more about his connections to the state.

“There’s a person who I’ve been working with who’s a genealogist,” he said. “I found out some interesting things about my background.”

Carter also maintained a connection to Alabama through his friendship with Cleve Eaton, a bassist who played with everyone from Ramsey Lewis to Count Basie.

“He was just a great player,” he said.

At 87 years old, Carter still maintains a busy schedule, working with his own big band, trio, quartet and duo. For him, the work is a continued effort in making new musical discoveries.

“Every night, I get a chance to stumble on an idea that I wouldn’t have stumbled on before,” he said.

With a body of work as long as his, Carter maintains a humbleness about his longevity in music.

“I’ve never gone into a gig thinking I shouldn’t be there,” he said. “I try to do the best I can and make them miss me if I’m not there tomorrow.”

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.