Life is precious and ephemeral, and moments of greatness, which can be so fleeting in the overall scheme of things, should be savored while they're still here. The recent passing of local bass legend Charlie Haden makes us appreciate even more the ongoing presence of double bassist Ron Carter, who's been going strong for more than 50 years since he came out of Detroit as a classically trained cellist. He started as a sideman in drummer Chico Hamilton's band, but really made a name for himself in the early 1960s with Miles Davis' second great quintet, where his intuitive bass runs padded nimbly on cat's paws underneath the thicket of Herbie Hancock's rolling piano chords and Davis' iconic clarion calls. Professor Carter has presided over, and pushed along, many of jazz's greatest moments in his long career. Also Saturday, July 26.

Thu., July 24, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.; Fri., July 25, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.; Sat., July 26, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m., 2014
(Expired: 07/26/14)

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