The Ron Carter Trio at the Blue Note.

Ron Carter brought a magnificent trio to the Blue Note – himself on double bass, Mulgrew Miller on piano and Russell Malone on guitar - and I went to hear this group perform at the end of their weeklong residency on November 1, 2009. This combination of instruments is very cool and crisp, without drums, vocals or horns, and made for a different kind of jazz experience.

Even though the Blue Note was filled to capacity, when this group started playing, one could hear a pin drop. Each musician is a strong soloist in his own right, but what makes this trio work so well, is that they’re also great accompanists. There was a sense of magic between them. This was felt during all of the selections of the set, whether on standard chord progression, a vamp, complex harmonies or earthy rhythms.

Mulgrew Miller was featured on “My Funny Valentine.” Beginning with just the melody on the piano, he proceeded to gradually add more intricate harmonies. At one point, he played classical-sounding arpeggios, and modulated to another key, quoting the tune, “It’s Easy to Remember.” Ron and Russell provided background fills and rounded out the piece.

Another highlight of the set was Russell Malone playing a beautiful melody on a ¾ ballad that was thoughtful and serious. Using some blues influences and interesting tremolos, he made the guitar sound like a mandolin.

The total effect of this acoustic set was one of space and quiet, where the music spoke for itself. This is something I’ve noticed about Ron Carter in the past, getting the audience’s attention by playing softly, forcing the audience to really listen to the music. Unfortunately, the spell was broken by the band that followed. Cuban drummer Francisco Mela was supposed to be the opening act, but for some reason played after the Ron Carter Trio, and in my opinion, this was a mistake. Not to say that he wasn’t talented, but it’s very difficult to follow three jazz masters like Miller, Malone and Carter.