James Carter

An effusive, dynamically gifted jazz saxophonist, James Carter caused a critical uproar when he appeared on the New York jazz scene from his native Detroit in the early '90s. Carter's debut recording, JC on the Set, issued in Japan when he was only 23 and in the States a year later in 1993, was universally acclaimed as the finest debut by a saxophonist in decades. Critics lauded his ability to play in virtually any jazz style without appearing to ape anyone. He has continued to build upon these early accolades, exploring the music of Django Reinhardt on 2000's Chasin' the Gypsy, displaying his classical skills on 2011's Caribbean Rhapsody, and working with his soulful organ trio on 2019's Live from Newport Jazz. Carter's virtuosic baritone sax skills were also front and center on 2024's Un (Unaccompanied Baritone Saxophone).