Ron Carter is an American jazz double-bassist who has appeared on over 2,500 recordings, making him one of the most recorded bassists of all time. Born in 1937, Carter initially began playing the cello at the age of 10, but switched to bass after encountering opposition and racial stereotyping within the classical music scene. Upon graduating from the Eastman School of Music and then the Manhattan School of Music, Carter would go on to play with a who's who of the jazz world, including luminaries like Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. While Carter is more than capable of holding down the low-end of nearly any ensemble, the adept bassist grabs hold of the reigns in jazz outfits he presides over, directing a sonic pathway with discernible ease.