Regina Carter

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Regina Carter

Regina Carter (born in Detroit, Michigan in 1966) is an American jazz violinist. She began as a classical violinist but became increasingly interested in jazz , and is considered one of the finest violinists in the genre. Carter attended Cass Technical High School with close friend, Carla Cook, who was enthusiastic about jazz, and introduced her to the likes of Ella Fitzgerald. (Cook has gone on to become a successful jazz singer.) Carter received a degree in music from Oakland University and studied at the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in Boston before forging her jazz career.

In 1996, Regina Carter began leading her first band, an "electric band."

In December 2001, she played a concert in Genoa on the Cannone Guarnerius of Niccolò Paganini. Using the same violin, she later recorded Paganini: After a Dream for Verve Records. [1]

Active as an educator, mentor, and proponent of the Suzuki method [2], Carter has taught at numerous institutions, including at Berklee College of Music [3], and two appearances at Stanford Jazz Workshop.

She currently performs at the head of a quintet. In May 2006, she was touring with Mark Krose (clarinet), Xavier Davis (piano), Alvester Garnett (drums), and Matt Parish (bass).

Carter was awarded a MacArthur Fellows Program grant, also known as a "genius grant," in September of 2006.