Ron Carter Shines
David Zehring | La Veta, CO United States | 05/16/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Christian McBride names Ron Carter as one of the four greatest bassists in jazz (the others are Ray Brown, Paul Chambers and Jaco Pastorius), and this DVD is a opportunity to see why he makes that list. His playing is stunning throughout, whether supporting Herbie or soloing. Herbie plays at his usual very high level, voicing chords as only he can, interacting constantly with Ron Carter. The disappointment here is Billy Cobham. As a fellow drummer, I have always admired Billy's unique approach to the instrument, and his contribution to the music of the Mahavishnu Orchestra was extraordinary, but he doesn't really serve the music of this trio well. I was looking for a performance that dug into the compositions, and I was hoping to see and hear true collaborative improvisation, but Billy seems to be outside the trio, not truly within. He dazzles, to be sure, but he doesn't meld. If you're a big fan of any of these players, check out this DVD, but if you're looking for ensemble improvisation, look elsewhere."