Grammy Award-winning jazz bassist Ron Carter is celebrating his 88th birthday this year with a six-day showcase in New York City. From April 29-May 4, Carter will perform in big bands, quartets, trios and duos. Blue Note New York is hosting the celebration.  

Carter, a metro Detroit-native who holds the Guinness World Record as the most recorded jazz bassist, began his career as a musician playing cello at age 12. While attending Cass Technical High School, Carter switched to bass after the only bass player in the orchestra graduated. That same year, he was accepted into the Eastman School of Music.

While attending the Eastman School of Music, Carter’s skills as a bassist continued to develop, but the treatment he received as a Black musician persisted. He expanded his outlook and began playing in a local jazz band, where he met bassists Ike Isaacs and Teddy Kotick, as well as vocalist Carmen McRae, cellist and bassist Sam Jones, saxophonist Cannonball Adderley and pianist Horace Silver. After college, Carter moved to New York City where he continued to play jazz.  

Throughout his career, Carter has performed and recorded with several musicians, including Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy and Lena Horne. He’s also collaborated with poet Gil Scott-Heron, vocalist Roberta Flack, and hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest. 

One Detroit contributor Cecelia Sharpe of 90.9 WRCJ talked with Carter ahead of his 88th birthday celebration. Carter reflected on the challenges he faced as a young African American musician, the encouragement he found from playing jazz music, and his experiences collaborating with other musicians and creatives. Plus, Carter shares what people can expect from his six days of performances.