The soundtrack to the 2022 PBS documentary about legendary jazz bassist
Ron Carter,
Finding the Right Notes showcases the musician's deeply intimate and nuanced small group, duo, and big band work. While the film explores the life and decades-long career of the iconic bassist, from his storied years with
Miles Davis to his own varied solo projects, the album is primarily focused on the latter. In that sense, it feels less like a career-spanning compilation and more like a thoughtfully curated studio or live album. There are some interesting previously unheard and rare recordings featured here, including a live take of
Carter's "Soft Winds" from the Newport Jazz Festival and a duet on "Willow Weep for Me" with bassist
Christian McBride at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. Also included is
Carter's duet with pianist
Jon Batiste on "Sweet Lorraine" and his recording of "Bag's Groove" with bassist
Stanley Clarke. These are magical pairings that reinforce just how deep the bassist's intergenerational influence runs. Equally compelling is his take on "My Man's Gone Now" with
Bill Frisell off the guitarist's 2005
East/West album. We also get several tracks culled from
Carter's 2014 collaboration with Germany's
WDR Big Band,
My Personal Songbook, as well as some songs featuring his small group with pianist
Renee Rosnes and saxophonist
Jimmy Greene. These are all warmly delivered performances that reveal the subtlety, lyricism, and mastery of
Carter's work. ~ Matt Collar