Jazz violinist extraordinaire takes you on a journey from funk and swing to blues and ballads. Hear the entire album Saturday March 31st at 10pm.

Regina Carter has been the leading proponent of jazz violin for the last couple decades. She began playing her instrument at age four and attended Detroit's prestigious Cass Technical High School. Upon graduating, she departed for the New England Conservatory of Music, only to return to Michigan to join the all-female jazz quartet Straight Ahead. After two recordings for the Atlantic label, Carter left the band in 1994 in search of a solo career.

She had already been doing session work in the city and sought to make the move permanent. Carter found herself working with Max Roach, the String Trio of New York, and the Uptown String Quartet before recording her self-titled debut recording on Atlantic in 1995. Its mixture of R&B, pop, and jazz confused jazz fans and delighted pop critics. It sold well enough for her to record Something for Grace, which leaned in a jazz direction though it featured an R&B sheen in its production. Carter left Atlantic for Verve in 1998 and recorded two more outings under her own name,

Rhythms of the Heart was recorded in 1999 for Verve with a crack band including pianist Kenny Barron, drummer Lewis Nash and Richard Bona on the bass. Guest artists include Cassandra Wilson, Rodney Jones (guitar) and others.

From the straight ahead swing of the opening track "Oh Lady Be Good" and the funky "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", to the Latin-tinged "Mojito" and the final blues of "Skeeter Blues.", Regina shows off all her skills and her influences, and has so much fun doing it!

 

Listen to the whole album beginning at 10pm Saturday night on The Listening Party.

 

Until then, check this out: