June 2010 CD of the Month

Throughout her career, violinist Regina Carter has always been adventurous and imaginative. She embarked on her solo career after her stint with the all-female ensemble, Straight Ahead which like Ms. Carter hails from Detroit. In 2003 Regina Carter became the first and still only jazzer to be awarded the honor of playing the treasured violin owned by the legendary Niccoló Paganini, a violin so precious it is kept in a guarded vault in Genoa, Italy and rarely brought out to be played. Regina’s discography includes many memorable outings, among many her tribute to her home town, “Motor City Moments” and her heart felt homage to her mother upon her passing, “I’ll Be Seeing You, A Sentimental Journey”.

For her most recent recording, classically trained Regina Carter decided to embrace African folk tunes as well as music of the African Diaspora. She also chose to use the traditional African stringed instrument, the kora for an authentic sound, yet make it swing to please the discerning jazz listener. “Reverse Thread” for the E1 Entertainment label is a magnificent example of how jazz can absorb elements of music from around the world and still remain jazz. Recognizing her immense talent, the MacArthur Foundation awarded Regina a fellowship, often called a “genius grant” to be able to fulfill her desire to follow her passion and record “Reverse Thread”, a joyful listening experience sure to keep you dancing all summer long.