1961 · Album
Pick 'Em/Super Strings
Recorded 1961 · Impulse! · Produced by Not definitively documented
The Bassist as Bandleader, On His Own Terms
Carter steps out front here, proving the bass can carry a record with intelligence and warmth.
Ron Carter made his name as a sideman—one of the most recorded bass players in jazz history. But Pick 'Em/Super Strings finds him in the leader's chair, and the shift matters. This isn't a vanity project where a celebrated accompanist suddenly plays solos over similar arrangements. Instead, Carter reimagines what a bass-led session can be, treating the instrument as a full melodic voice rather than a rhythm section anchor.
The album splits its personality between two approaches. The "Pick 'Em" side emphasizes Carter's arco playing, with the bow bringing out singing, vocal-like qualities that make you forget you're listening to a bass. The "Super Strings" side leans into his pizzicato technique over lush string arrangements, creating something warm and almost chamber-like in its intimacy. These aren't aggressive statements or technical exercises meant to impress. They're thoughtful, musical choices that prioritize melody and feeling. Tracks breathe. There's space. Carter never overplays, which might sound obvious for a bassist, but it's worth noting because it shows his restraint extends to the front of the band.
This sits early in Carter's leadership journey, before he would go on to record prolifically as a leader. It's not the place most people start with his work—that's usually through his session work with Miles Davis or John Coltrane. But if you're curious about Carter as a complete musician rather than a supporting player, this is essential. It's understated in a way that rewards listening closely. Not every album needs to change the world. Sometimes a skilled musician simply showing you what he can do is enough.
