Ron Carter & Ricky Dillard: ‘Sweet, Sweet Spirit’

‘Sweet, Sweet Spirit’ is a new studio album from legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter and gospel icon Ricky Dillard, containing a selection of Carter’s mother’s favourite hymns.

Starting with Open My Eyes, this album celebrates contemporary gospel choir music with energy and passion with Carter’s bass and Dillard’s choir. The influences from jazz are clear in each track with Carter’s stunning bass lines.

And if you’re not sure where you’ve heard Carter’s bass before, check out some of the classic Miles Davis tunes of the 1960s - it’s right there.

Listen especially to the opening phrases of In The Garden, where that bass shines in praise.

Sweet, Sweet Spirit is a deeply personal project for Ron Carter in memory of his late mother, Mrs. Willie O. Carter, whose favorite hymns shaped the musical foundation of the Carter household and the Detroit church community where they worshipped.

When Mrs Carter approached the end, her family asked Ron to arrange and record ten of her favourite hymns and Ricky Dillard was engaged to work on the project and produce this stunning collection of jazz-gospel arrangements.

Ron Carter said: “I think that when this music is released, I predict that it will open up a lot more doors to people's hearts, unifying them.”

Get your copy of Sweet, Sweet Spirit on Blue Note Records now.