Regina Carter (b. 1966) heralds the return of the
violin
to [mainstream
jazz. Since the passing of
Stephane Grappelli the violin hasn't had a definite
presence in jazz. (
Jean-Luc Ponty, who always leaned
toward rock/jazz
fusion offered some
contribution outside the mainstream.)
Carter, who hails from Detroit, Michigan, began a
career with the band Straight Ahead
after graduating from the New England Conservatory.
She then played with the Uptown String Quartet and
Max Roach, the patriarch of jazz percussion .
Although her first albums were R&B oriented, she dove into in the
jazz mainstream playing with Wynton Marsalis
in Blood on the Fields. She has also appeared on
albums by Tom Harrell, Cassandra Wilson,
Kenny Barron, and
Steve Turré.
I don't yet have confirmation, but I am pretty sure
that the saxophone-wonder James Carter is her brother.