Eight Plus
Ron Carter · 1990
54 min · 8 tracks · jazz
Intricate post-bop arrangements blend seamlessly with Carter's signature bass lines and rich harmonic textures.
Top tracks — play these first
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Eight — The title track features complex rhythms and an engaging interplay between instruments, setting the tone for the rest of the album with its exploratory nature.
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A Blues for Bradley — This piece stands out for its soulful melody and heartfelt expression, demonstrating Carter's ability to infuse emotional depth into intricate musical structures.
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Little Waltz — With its delicate waltz tempo, this track showcases Carter’s lyrical playing style and highlights the collaborative chemistry among the ensemble members.
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Just a Closer Walk With Thee — As a poignant closer, this rendition brings a spiritual quality to the album while revealing Carter's deep connection to traditional jazz roots.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album showcases intricate compositions and strong performances, making it a notable entry in Carter's discography.
What we noticed
- Carter's bass lines often serve as both rhythmic and melodic anchors, weaving in and out of the intricate harmonies provided by the ensemble.
- Several tracks incorporate call-and-response patterns between instruments, enhancing the conversational quality of the music.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady melodic exploration
- rich rhythmic grooves
- gradual build with resolution
- thoughtful afternoon listening
- intricate melodies to savor
Maybe skip if you
- seeking immediate gratification
- prefer short, standalone tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1990, Eight Plus marked Ron Carter’s return to the forefront of jazz after a prolific period as a session musician. By this time, he had already established himself as one of the most recorded jazz bassists, with a career spanning over three decades and collaborations with legends like Miles Davis.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Charles Mingus· Jimmy Garrison· Dave Holland
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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A Blues for Bradley
The composition shifts from a soulful introduction to an intricate dialogue between instruments that builds emotional intensity throughout.
This structural choice emphasizes both individual expression and ensemble cohesion, underscoring the track's tribute character while elevating its bluesy essence.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Eight 7:46
- 2 A Blues for Bradley 7:46
- 3 Little Waltz 9:31
- 4 OK 5:14
- 5 A Song for You 8:06
- 6 First Trip 5:09
- 7 El Rompe Cabeza 9:06
- 8 Just a Closer Walk With Thee 1:57
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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