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Artist: Regina Carter
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Regina Carter:

Ella: Accentuate the Positive

A hundred years after her birth, the ever-eloquent Ella Fitzgerald continues to teach us lessons.  Regina Carter has chosen this moment to celebrate the First Lady of Song's infectious and inclusive artistry with unabashed joy.  "Accentuate the Positive, I thought was the perfect title considering the mood of the country and the world right now," Ms. Carter says.  "We need some positive vibes."

On Ella:  Accentuate the Positive, out April 21 from Okeh/Sony Music Masterworks, the virtuoso violinist reveals the many faces of Fitzgerald that have influenced Carter's own remarkable path in music. Apart from the title track of Accentuate the Positive, Regina resists the allure of the songstress's most recognizable hits. Carter has mined tunes from deep within Ella's bountiful catalogue, and brought them to the surface with a distinct freshness.  The reward is rich for the listener.

"One of the many things that I adore about Ella is that she just loved music and didn't box herself in," Carter explains.  "She recorded everything, not just the American Songbook--doo-wop, Stevie Wonder and Beatles songs, even some country western music.  The fact that she experimented with so many different styles made me feel that, with this record, I would pay respect to her by taking the music and doing something else with it.  I feel that she would smile in agreement."

To realize her vision of the album, which transforms the songs through a lens of classic 1950s-'60s soul and blues, Carter calls on an impressive roster of musicians and arrangers.  The violinist is accompanied by her longtime rhythm section of bassist Chris Lightcap and drummer Alvester Garnett, and is joined by pianist Xavier Davis and guitarist Marvin Sewell.  Both Lightcap and Sewell serve double-duty as arrangers.  

This talented group is supplemented by in-demand bassist Ben Williams, producer and hitmaker, Ray Angry, renowned vocalist, Charenee Wade and pianist Mike Wofford, Fitzgerald's own former accompanist and musical director.  Two tracks feature vocals by Regina's fellow Detroiters, actress and singer, Miche Braden; and longtime friend and vocalist extraordinaire, Carla Cook, who first introduced Carter to jazz violin while the two were classmates at Cass Technical School.

"When people arrange tunes, their voices become part of the recording as well," Carter says. "I wanted to have many voices and many stylistic approaches on this record."

Regina Carter:

Southern Comfort

Violinist Regina Carter is considered the foremost jazz violinist of her generation - a designation which doesn't quite paint the picture.  As a result of her curiosity, passion, and quest for beauty brought to every stop taken on her full musical journey, she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship (a "genius grant"). Those are more apparent than ever on her Sony Music Masterworks debut album Southern Comfort in which she explores the folk music of the South. The album will be released on and coincide with an international tour.

 

Regina Carter:

Reverse Thread

When preeminent violinist Regina Carter made the decision to record an album primarily of African folk tunes, she created a great challenge for herself: how do you take beautiful traditional music and infuse it with a contemporary feel while remaining true to its past - and then, not compromise its beauty? Her newest release, Reverse Thread, brilliantly responds to the challenge. Carter added an accordion and 'kora,' the West African harp traditionally played by village storytellers-to her longstanding rhythm section.