Violinist Regina Carter is considered the foremost jazz violinist of her generation - a designation which doesn't quite paint the picture. As a result of her curiosity, passion, and quest for beauty brought to every stop taken on her full musical journey, she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship (a "genius grant"). Those are more apparent than ever on her upcoming debut Southern Comfort (Sony Music Masterworks), in which she explores the folk music of the South. The album will be released today, March 4, 2014 and coincide with an international tour.
Southern Comfort thematically connects Carter's earlier albums I'll Be Seeing You: A Sentimental Journey (2006), which features her mother's favorite early jazz standards; and Reverse Thread (2010) which celebrates the tradition of African music re-imagined for violin, accordion, bass, drams and kora. On her new album she explores the folk tunes her paternal grandfather, a coalminer, would have heard as he toiled in Alabama - and the project expanded to include other folk tunes of the region. Intent on making the past, present, Regina sought out distant relatives and books about the era in which her grandfather lived. From there, she went to the Library of Congress and the renowned collections of folklorists such as Alan Lomax and John Work III digging deep into their collected field recordings from Appalachia. On Southern Comfort, Regina interprets her own roots through a modern lens.Sony Music Masterworks comprises the Masterworks, Sony Classical, OKeh, Portrait, Masterworks Broadway and Flying Buddha imprints. For email updates and information please visit www.SonyMasterworks.com.
www.reginacarter.com twitter: @regina_carter facebook: regina-carterSouthern Comfort Tour Dates: 1/12/14 Birdland NY, NY 3/20/14 St. Cecilia Music Center Grand Rapids, MI 3/21/14 Jazz Kitchen Indianapolis, IN 3/23/14 Kauffman Center for the Arts Kansas City, MO 3/29/14 The Egg Albany, NY 4/1/14 Birdland NY, NY 4/2/14 Birdland NY, NY 4/3/14 Birdland NY, NY 4/4/14 Birdland NY, NY 4/5/14 Birdland NY, NY 4/6/14 Birchmere Music Hall Alexandria, VA 4/12/14 Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI 4/13/14 Heinz C. Prechter Education + Performing Arts Center Detroit, MI 4/18/14 Symphony Center Chicago, IL 4/19/14 Jazz Bakery - Zipper Hall LA, CA 4/21/14 Kuumbwa Jazz Center Santa Cruz, CA 4/22/14 Lobero Theatre Santa Barbara, CA 4/23/14 NSCU Center at Capilano University Vancouver, CA 4/24/14 Jazz Alley Seattle, WA 4/25/14 Jazz Alley Seattle, WA 4/26/14 Jazz Alley Seattle, WA 4/27/14 Jazz Alley Seattle, WA 4/28/14 Jimmy Mak's Portland, OR 4/29/14 Humboldt State University Arcata, CA 5/1/14 SF Jazz San Francisco, CA 5/2/14 SF Jazz San Francisco, CA 5/3/14 SF Jazz San Francisco, CA 5/4/14 SF Jazz San Francisco, CA 5/6/14 The Loft at UCSD San Diego, CA 5/7/14 Music Instruments Museum Phoenix, AZ 5/8/14 Outpost Performance Space Albuquerque, NM 5/9/14 Outpost Performance Space Albuquerque, NM 5/10/14 Dazzle Denver, CO 5/11/14 Dazzle Denver, COVideos