Search - Joseph Carter III :: Straight Ahead Backwards

Before the development of Straight Ahead Backwards, Joseph Carter was looking forward to touring with Bill Doggett, Benny Waters and Walter Perkins as the New York Jazz & Soul Project. Due to the loss of Bill Doggett, not only a legendary musician but someone who had become a dear friend, Joseph decided not to release the album they had just recorded and to cancel any ideas of touring. Musically, Joseph was being pushed by Tal Farlow and Jim Hall, as well as by the man who made his guitar, Jimmy D'Aquisto, to establish his own style. It was then that Joseph began to conceive of Straight Ahead Backwards, a CD of all original music.

An outstanding record overall which affords continual listening. Each time you play it, you will find new and more subtle nuances and expressions which you had not heard before. Straight Ahead Backwards will move straight ahead by Mr. Carter's own "backwards" but singular and unparalleled vision into the future; ever present and contemporary.

There is a diversity of styles, as well, and Carter has created a record which, although so wide, varying and expansive in genre, still retains a cohesive sound - a testament to his vision and ability as a musician in realizing such a complex and difficult task. One of the marked reasons for this is the through line of his exciting and risky melding of so many musical forms which are distilled adeptly into a potent and singular whole - as well as his bold and inventive use of counterpoint and melodies between all the musicians.

Review by John Hanche