Product Description:
Personnel: Regina Carter (violin); Richard Bona (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric bass, percussion); Cassandra Wilson (vocals); Romero Lubambo (acoustic guitar); Rodney Jones (guitar); Werner "Van" Gierig, Kenny Barron (piano); Peter Washington (bass); Lewis Nash (drums); Mayra Casales (percussion).
Recorded at Avatar Studios, New York, New York on November 24 & 30 and December 8, 1998. Includes liner notes by Greg Tate.
This is violinist Carter's third album, and her first for Verve. On it, she makes good on the title's promise, exploring the rhythms of not just jazz, but Latin music, reggae, R&B, bossa nova and more. Things open with the furious hard bop of "Lady Be Good," on which Carter displays her formidable chops and makes plain her debt to jazz violin godfather Stuff Smith.
Things take a more modern turn on the moody, reggaefied version of the Temptations classic "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," which features a typically sultry guest vocal from Cassandra Wilson. Carter's rhythmic adventurousness is further highlighted by the syncopated, upbeat Latin groove of "Mojito" and the propulsive African flavor of "Mandingo Street." Throughout RHYTHMS OF THE HEART, Carter proves herself to be a well-rounded player, rooted in the jazz verities but modern and inquisitive enough to seek out new avenues of expression.
Entertainment Reviews:
Entertainment Weekly - 5/7/99, p.65
"...her most successful effort yet....Carter continues to explore on the job, not a bad idea for a young artist in the sparsely traveled field of jazz violin..." -
Rating: B
