The second artist to perform in the concert series is jazz violinist Regina Carter. Carter’s show features Xavier Davis on piano & keyboards, Marvin Sewell on acoustic & electric guitars, Chris Lightcap on acoustic & electric bass, and Alvester Garnett on drums.

Carter, a Sony Masterworks recording artits, is the foremost jazz violinist of her generation. Her quest for beauty combined with her passion for excellence did not escape the attention of the MacArthur Foundation, who awarded Carter its prestigious fellowship “genius grant.”

Carter’s upcoming album and touring program, Simply Ella, marks the 100th birthday of a musical legend. The program celebrates the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald – the source of Carter’s musical inspiration. An influence she has cherished throughout her life, Carter describes her visceral connection to Ella’s music:

“Growing up in Detroit, there was always music playing in our home. While there was a variety of music I enjoyed, there were few recordings and artists I found consistently captivating. Ella Fitzgerald was one of these exceptions. To this very day, whenever I hear an Ella recording it grabs me at my core. I’m entranced by her voice, her melodic improvisations and the passion and artfulness with which Ella sings a song. She helps me understand a song by providing a window to its essence. In a word, Ella is sublime, and she is at the top of my go-to list when learning a jazz tune. Perhaps Jimmy Rowles said it best, ‘Music comes out of her. When [Ella] walks down the street … she leaves notes.’ I’m so excited to celebrate Ella Fitzgerald, an artist who has meant so much to all the notes in my musical life.”