First star of Kaunas Jazz 2025: the famous US musician James Carter

The International Jazz Festival Kaunas Jazz is already inviting you to make plans for a meeting in 2025. The first star of the 35th edition of the festival has been announced: the famous US saxophonist James Carter is coming to Kaunas. He returns to the Kaunas Jazz Festival stage after a 21-year hiatus - in 2004 his performance was the final highlight of the season. This time, the trio will perform at the Kaunas National Drama Theatre on 25 April 2025.

When James Carter first stepped onto the Kaunas Jazz stage in 2004, he was hailed as a rising star of American jazz. Today, he is deservedly hailed as one of the best and most respected jazz musicians of his generation. "When you hear James Carter, you are astonished", is how the publication describes the musician. "Washington Post. The New York Times is equally enthusiastic: "James is one of the most powerful and charismatic soloists in jazz". Praise, it might be added, has been with him since he was a young man. Entering his sixties, he has been a professional jazz musician for nearly 40 years.

Detroit-born James studied with the renowned saxophonist Donald Washington and was touring Scandinavia with a big band by the time he was 16. At 19, his talent caught the attention of the famous trumpeter Lester Bowie, who invited him to join his band, and soon James Carter was thrust into the colourful and action-packed New York jazz scene.

At the age of 24, he released his debut album JC On The Set, and quickly gained widespread acclaim from both the jazz profession and the jazz critics. James Carter has repeatedly won the top saxophonist award from the leading jazz magazine Downbeat (in both listener and journalist polls). He has recorded dozens of albums, both as a bandleader and as a collaborator with other outstanding musicians.

James Carter's musical partnerships include concerts and recordings with jazz stars Dee Dee Bridgewater, Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Christian McBride, Marcus Miller, the avant-garde jazz group Art Ensemble of Chicago, singers Madeleine Peyroux and Karrin Allyson, drummer for the legendary rock band Cream, Ginger Baker, and the pop superstar Phil Collins.

James Carter Trio at Vienna's Porgy & Bess: https://youtu.be/x2nreUdG78U?si=lpRiYoMEnK8NbHwC

The wide-ranging, cross-genre roster of musicians that can be found on James Carter's road perfectly reflects his musical philosophy. According to the saxophonist, music, like life, has many very different shades and it would be a mistake to ignore some of them. From traditional to avant-garde jazz, from funk to blues and rock, James Carter's music has it all. As the US media has written, it sometimes seems that he has taken it upon himself to include the whole history of jazz in his repertoire.

Excerpt from the James Carter Trio Concert: https://youtu.be/ohECmplH_SI?si=rFSutQ2p48WnuK2A

There aren't many artists in the jazz world with such a varied discography. James Carter has recorded a concerto for saxophone and orchestra, a disc inspired by rock legend Jimi Hendrix, a tribute album to jazz goddess Billie Holiday, and even an album of songs by alternative rock band Pavement. "James is like a very dynamic interlocutor. If his saxophone stories were the stories at a party, everybody would be in stitches. He has a way of expressing his thoughts like no one else," says renowned producer Don Was, describing the musician's charm and love of diversity.

In Kaunas, we will hear one of James Carter's most distinctive projects - a trio featuring the saxophone alongside Hammond organ and percussion. This is the same instrumentation he used in Lithuania in 2004, and it is also the combination featured on many of his albums. In 2012, this trio was joined by Gregory Porter, the darling of Lithuanian audiences, at the famous North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands: https://youtu.be/uPqEAs4JpzE?si=TbKjp81YeILOuYoI

One thing is for sure: James Carter's concerts always have a surprise and a vibrant colour that has never been missing in his life. For example, he has a large collection of vintage saxophones. What do you know, maybe we will hear one of them in Kaunas? His biography also includes an extraordinary role in cinema. In 1996, he played the legendary saxophonist Ben Webster in Robert Altman's Kansas City.

With the trajectory of James Carter's career, it would surprise no one if the day comes when film roles are based on his story. In the meantime, here's a great opportunity to see and hear this jazz virtuoso in Lithuania.