Ron Carter Trio 3/23/12 Sprague Hall

The bio on Ron Carter bassist to the stars is that he is credited on over 2000 recordings. Carter on standup bass, Ruben Vega on piano, and Russell Malone on guitar, these veterans gave some standards to a packed Sprague Hall. Part of the Ellington series, there can be no better fit than Carter who effortlessly led My Funny Valentine, I Could Have Danced and others. Diana Krall guitarist Malone had amazing chops. Closeout tune was Golden Striker by the Modern Jazz Quartet, it was as if John Lewis wrote the tune for bass instead of Milt Jackson's vibes. Always good to see an icon in a beautiful setting.

Richard Buckner 2/22/12 BAR

Fractured folkie Buckner has been around a while. I unearthed a CD Since that was recorded in 1993 with some personnel from Tortoise and other Chicago scenesters. Buckner looked the part as well, stringy long hair with an artist (or homeless) look in his eye. His voice is monotone and dark. With just guitar and looping device, he plowed through cuts from his prolific yet under the radar career. I'm sure mining his back catalog would produce some gems.