Saxophonist James Carter debuts with the Louisiana Philharmonic

Saxophonist James Carter will make his Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra debut on Friday, October 21, performing Roberto Sierra’s Concerto for Saxophones. The concert, led by guest conductor Thomas Wilkins, also features William Grant Still’s “Afro-American” Symphony and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8.

The concert takes place Friday, October 21, 7:30 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater. Tickets start at $20 and are available online at LPOmusic.com or by calling (504) 523-6530. Student tickets are $10 at the door.

JAMES CARTER

James Carter is a powerhouse musician and one of the most admired saxophonists of his generation, garnering plaudits for his role in helping to propel jazz full tilt into the future over the past twenty-five years. His music is fueled by deep respect and intimate knowledge of the jazz tradition.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1969, Carter began playing saxophone at age 11, first recorded with a Detroit student ensemble in 1986 and, by 1991, had recorded with legendary trumpeter Lester Bowie on “The Organizer” and contributed to the 1991 collection “The Tough Young Tenors.” Mastering a family of reed instruments, from sopranino to contrabass saxophones to contrabass and bass clarinets, Carter mesmerized the jazz world after arriving in New York City in 1988 to play under the auspices of Lester Bowie.

This article originally published in the October 17, 2016 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.