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Regina Carter: Tiny Desk Concert Carter's violin has expressed moods inspired by European classical, bebop, Afro-Cuban and Southern blues music.

Tiny DeskTiny Desk

Intimate video performances, recorded live at the desk of Bob Boilen

Regina Carter: Tiny Desk Concert

Credit: NPR

The violin is common to many different musical traditions. In Regina Carter's hands, the instrument has expressed moods inspired by European classical, bebop, Afro-Cuban and Southern blues music. Carter's latest exploration takes her to Africa.

Her new album, Reverse Thread — due out in May — is a collection of African melodies re-imagined through Carter's jazz sensibilities, as well as her never-ending thirst for new ways to bring unexpected sounds to her violin.

Carter recently stopped by the NPR Music offices while on a short tour to preview her new record. She opted to slightly reconfigure her larger group, with just Will Holshouser on accordion and Yacouba Sissoko on kora. As you'll soon hear and see in this Tiny Desk Concert performance, the music was transporting, the interplay of the musicians inspiring and Carter as powerful as ever.

Set List

  • "N'Teri" (Habib Koite)
  • "Kanou" (Boubacar Traoré)

Credit

Frannie Kelley (cameras); edited by Michael Katzif; photo by May-Ying Lam

Tiny DeskTiny Desk

Intimate video performances, recorded live at the desk of Bob Boilen