Music
James Carter
born 1969 · jazz saxophonist, multi-reedist
Detroit-born saxophone virtuoso, trained in Donald Washington's youth ensemble, whose 1988 sit-in with Lester Bowie at the Detroit Institute of Arts launched his career.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan
age 57- Detroit years
- 1969–1988
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
James Carter was born in Detroit in 1969 and learned his craft under local educator Donald Washington, playing in Washington's youth jazz ensemble Bird-Trane-Sco-NOW!! As a teenager he attended Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in western Michigan, where he became its youngest faculty member. His break came on May 31, 1988, at the Detroit Institute of Arts: added at the last minute to trumpeter Lester Bowie's concert, he impressed Bowie so much that he was invited to play with Bowie's new quintet in New York that November. Carter moved into the New York scene and built a reputation for startling technique across the whole saxophone family and other woodwinds. He has performed and recorded with Julius Hemphill, the World Saxophone Quartet, Kathleen Battle, Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater and the Mingus Big Band. His violinist cousin Regina Carter is also a Detroit jazz star.
Highlights
- Trained in Donald Washington's Detroit youth ensemble
- Youngest faculty member at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp
- Sat in with Lester Bowie at the Detroit Institute of Arts, May 31, 1988
- Plays the full saxophone family and other woodwinds
- Cousin of jazz violinist Regina Carter
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Performed here · 1988
Detroit Institute of Arts (Friday Night Live!)
Detroit's great art museum, where on May 31, 1988 he sat in with Lester Bowie, the concert that took him to New York.