Regina Carter : Simply Ella

SOPAC • Friday, March 23rd • 8 PM

Sony Masterworks artist Regina Carter

For Sony Masterworks artist Regina Carter, the violin isn’t simply an improvisational vehicle; it’s a passport to unexpected realms. It’s a Rosetta Stone that unlocks the doors to a myriad of cultures, sounds, and worlds apart. Her quest for beauty combined with her passion for excellence did not escape the attention of the MacArthur Foundation, which awarded Regina their prestigious MacArthur Fellowship “genius grant.” Regina Carter’s musical journey has always taken her to deeply personal spaces, and inspiration has come from her family, her roots and her love of Jazz.

2017 saw the 100th birthday of a true musical legend, Ella Fitzgerald. Ella is THE source of Regina’s musical inspiration. Her new album, Ella: Accentuate the Positive, and touring program celebrates the music and spirit of this incomparable musical juggernaut.

Regina Carter explains her deep and visceral connection to Ella’s music, an influence Regina has cherished throughout her life, “Growing up in Detroit, there was always music playing in our home. While there was a variety of music I enjoyed, there were a few 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. In a word, Ella is sublime, and she is at the top of my go-to list when learning a Jazz tune. I’m so excited to celebrate Ella Fitzgerald, an artist who has meant so much to all the notes in my musical life.”

Ella: Accentuate the Positive is the end result of Carter’s daily communion with and lifelong devotion to the music of Ella Fitzgerald.