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PBS, in partnership with Partisan Pictures, announces the fall debut of a new documentary film, RON CARTER: FINDING THE RIGHT NOTES. Premiering Friday, October 21, 9:00 – 11:00 p.m. ET (check local listings), the film explores the life and career of one of the world’s most fascinating musical geniuses of our time, Ron Carter.
FINDING THE RIGHT NOTES is an intimate portrait of the “quiet genius” who speaks with his music and has brought the upright bass out from the background and into the spotlight. Exploring his illustrious career as a bassist which spans more than 60 years, the film features Carter and other notable musicians sharing candid stories and memories.
For Mr. Ron Carter, “finding the right notes” has been not only a lifelong quest to discover the artistic choices that bring magic to his music. It has also been about making personal choices that affect the quality of one’s life and impact the lives of others. With his early dream of being a classical musician deferred, Carter turned to jazz and not only embraced it wholeheartedly but changed the trajectory of jazz altogether. The film looks at his resilience and dedication through the eyes and ears of this prolific artist, influential teacher, and quiet, but persistent, activist.
“I’m trying to find what the top of the mountain looks like, and the only way to get there is by playing every night like it’s my last chance to get this right,” Mr. Ron Carter said. “It’s getting to that place. It’s seeing the music still fight for survival, and I am still part of that. I mean how long do I want to continue to be fighting for the survival of music? Or be part of the struggle of people who are trying to make music remain vital to someone else’s life. I’m not sure what I want to do, other than keep looking for the right notes.”
Whether touring with the Miles Davis Quintet or laying down the beat for A Tribe Called Quest, Carter’s talent and ingenuity have touched the lives of some of the past half-century’s most iconic artists. Musicians featured include Jon Batiste, Herbie Hancock, Stanley Clarke, Sonny Rollins, George Benson, Lenny White, Buster Williams, and Bill Frisell who reflect on their colorful, rich, and inspiring journeys with Mr. Carter.
“[Mr. Ron Carter] is a man whose legacy reflects not only the challenges and successes he has faced over the past sixty years as an African-American artist, but the spirit of the African-American experience as a whole, in the trying, turbulent, and transformative times in which we live,” Jon Batiste, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter said.
The three-time, Grammy Award-winning artist has recorded with jazz greats including Lena Horne, Bill Evans, B.B. King, Dexter Gordon, Wes Montgomery, Bobby Timmons, Eric Dolphy, Cannonball Adderley, and Jaki Byard to name a few. Mr. Carter’s musical contributions have resulted in many notable accolades including a Guinness World Record as the Most Recorded Jazz Bassist and six Honorary Doctorate Degrees. Outside of music, Mr. Carter is a renowned educator, teaching the art of jazz, and is an acclaimed author with a series of books including his autobiography of the same title as the film.
“RON CARTER: FINDING THE RIGHT NOTES” is the captivating and informative story of a man whose love for making music had to overcome the racial discrimination in America he faced at a very early age,” Peter Schnall, director, and producer said. “From the way he walks lines, to his thick, full, and prominent notes and tones, Mr. Carter has spent his entire career finding the right note and perfecting his craft, shaping him into the consummate jazz musician we know and respect, today.”
RON CARTER: FINDING THE RIGHT NOTES is produced by Partisan Pictures in association with PBS. Peter Schnall is the director and producer, Lucas Groth is the producer and editor, John Matera, Amy Moritz, and Peter Schnall are executive producers, and Bill Gardner is the executive in charge for PBS.
“We’re excited to bring this inspirational story to PBS audiences, across platforms, who value the arts and diverse voices,” said Bill Gardner, vice president, of multiplatform programming and development at PBS. “Mr. Carter’s career, which spans almost every genre of music, and his passion for education and community make for a truly unique American story that everyone should know and share.”
RON CARTER: FINDING THE RIGHT NOTES will be available for streaming on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS Video app, available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast, and VIZIO.
