American article previews Carter/OGD performances

The St. Louis American now has online a feature story about saxophonist and educator Ronald Carter (pictured), former band director at East St. Louis' Lincoln High who's coming back to St. Louis next week to perform at Jazz at the Bistro. Carter will take the stage with Reggie Thomas' organ trio OGD on Friday, February 23 and Saturday, February 24

Written by editor Chris King, the piece profiles Carter and previews the gig:

"Carter will play saxophone and sing select vocals. He will have a class reunion on the bandstand with drummer Montez Coleman, a former student who has since been around the world and back with Roy Hargrove, and Carter’s family will get into the act as well.

Carter’s 12-year-old daughter Demetria Carter will sing a few songs, and his 16-year-old son Brian Carter - an All-State jazz drummer at Sycamore (Illinois) High School - will sit in on Coleman’s trapset.

Carter also plans to lead the band through a composition about his son, titled “Bee Man.” You can expect the mother of this talented brood, Linda Carter of East St. Louis, to join what should be a packed house for this favorite adopted son of St. Louis."

While he's in town, Carter, who currently directs jazz studies at Northern Illinois University, also will be doing one of Jazz St. Louis' "conversation" events. The free program will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 27 at the Centene Center for the Arts, the building on Olive just east of Grand that houses JSL's administrative offices (as well as those of several other local arts organizations).

(Edited 2/16/07 to fix a typo.)