Blue Note Records and Motown Gospel have joined forces for an unexpected and ambitious collaboration, Sweet, Sweet Spirit, a hybrid album that pairs Ron Carter’s improvisational bass work with the powerful, full‑voiced energy of Ricky Dillard’s renowned New G Chorale. Whether this project will entice jazz listeners toward traditional gospel remains uncertain, though Carter’s name alone will draw many curious ears. His bass is present and purposeful in the mix, but the choir’s sheer vocal force dominates nearly every track. Thankfully, the presence of multiple lead vocalists provides welcome variety, even as the choir remains the project’s central instrument, with Carter’s bass serving more as a guide or narrator.
For Carter—a veteran NEA Jazz Master who has appeared on more recordings than any other bassist—this album represents a long‑held dream. It is also a profoundly personal tribute to his late mother, Mrs. Willie O. Carter, whose favorite hymns shaped his early life. Nearly three decades ago, during her final weeks, Carter arranged ten of these hymns as solo bass pieces for her. On Sweet, Sweet Spirit, he reimagines those intimate arrangements on a much larger canvas, backed by Dillard’s sweeping, surging choir. These hymns, originally sung a cappella in Detroit church services and in the quiet of the Carter household, now appear in dramatically expanded form.
One can’t help but wonder how the album might have evolved had these grand, choir‑driven performances been interspersed with smaller ensemble moments. Such contrasts could have deepened the emotional arc of the project while allowing Carter’s bass a more prominent, spacious role. Even so, Sweet, Sweet Spirit stands as a heartfelt merging of personal memory, spiritual tradition, and artistic ambition—an offering Carter has undeniably earned the right to make.
Rodney Evans hosts Joy In The Morning on WCLK, heard Monday-Friday 4am-6am and Sundays 6am-11am.
