January 22, 2022
Spivey Hall
Regina Carter, violin; Xavier Davis, piano; Chris Lightcap, acoustic bass; Alvester Garnett
Malik Roberts | 25 JAN 2022
In the unlikely event of a remarkably cultured young American coming of age in the next ten, fifteen, or twenty years and educating himself (or herself or themselves) about the history of jazz, one of the most significant of all musical genres, one hopes that they come across the Regina Carter Quartet.
The Quartet’s well-attended concert at Clayton State University’s Spivey Hall on Saturday night was 21st-century jazz as it should be played.
The band members are classically trained violinist Regina Carter, pianist Xavier Davis, bassist Chris Lightcap, and drummer Alvester Garnett. The entire band was in total unalloyed sympatico for the entire two hours they played together, and was met with rapturous applause after literally every song — and deservedly so. Among the concert’s standout selections were their covers of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “My Favorite Things,” Hoagy Carmichael & Stuart Gorrell’s “Georgia On My Mind”, and Glenn Miller’s “Chattanooga Choo-Choo”.
I couldn’t help but notice Coltrane’s influence on Ms. Carter’s style. If Coltrane or Ornette Coleman, for that matter, had been violinists rather than two of the most innovative and influential saxophonists of all time, they would have played as Ms. Carter does. Equally impressive were Mr. Garnett’s drum solos, reminiscent of Art Blakey and, to a degree, Joe Morello (longtime drummer for Dave Brubeck). I could hear traces of Mingus, Paul Chambers, and even Esperanza Spalding in Mr. Lightcap’s performance on the acoustic bass. I could hear Monk, Erroll Garner & Art Tatum’s collective influence in Mr. Davis’ inspired piano licks.
One isn’t alone in his eager anticipation of the return of the Quartet to Atlanta. ■
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