For Eastman Weekend 2014, our next few Eastman blog posts will celebrate news of notable alumni.
Ron Carter performing at Mezzrow, October 2014. Photo by Takehiko Tak Tokiwa .
Spike Wilner, the owner of the new Greenwich Village jazz club Mezzrow, sent us this message about a recent appearance by the legendary jazz bassist (and Eastman alumnus), Ron Carter (BM ’59):
“[Pianist] Ethan Iverson brought us a gift in the form of Ron Carter over the last three nights at Mezzrow. Being in such close proximity to a musician of this stature was a revelation. Forgive me for stating the obvious, but Ron Carter is a true jazz master. All six shows were sold out – little Mezzrow was packed to the gills. On Saturday night our air conditioning system went out (which added quite a few more grey hairs to my already rapidly greying scalp), but regardless of the warmth of the room and the large number of people in there you could hear a pin drop. Mr. Carter kept the room silent in rapt attention as he wove beauty before our ears. It was transcendental and a true New York moment. Our little basement in Greenwich Village filled with believers, listening to a jazz legend create profundity. At that moment it all came together for me at Mezzrow, all the hard work, heartaches, idiotic tenants’ associations, and everything else we’ve dealt with in bringing Mezzrow to life. There it was – a bass and a piano and a room full of people. Gorgeous.”