80: When Ron Carter reflects on himself on May 4, 2017 and looks back on the past eight decades, there is hardly any reason for him to be down on himself, even in silence. For more than seven decades, the smart and likeable double bassist has been regarded as one of the most important, creative and powerful representatives of his profession and, with well over 2000 albums under his belt, as one of the most recorded bassists in jazz history. With his philosophy of absolute professionalism and reliability, he became a role model for entire generations of jazz musicians. Ron recorded his first albums in the early 1960s with colleagues such as Eric Dolphy and Don Ellis - projects that became style-defining for modern jazz. He later earned indelible merits in Miles Davis' legendary quintet, working with the Who's Who of jazz history. As a professor at the City College of New York and the venerable Juilliard School, he is still held in the highest esteem today. This trio has been one of Carter's favorite formations since the beginning of the new millennium, despite - or perhaps because of - several line-up changes. Perhaps the most serious was the loss of pianist Mulgrew Miller, who died suddenly in 2013 at the age of just 57. In his place, Donald Vega now sits on the piano stool and, together with guitarist Russell Malone and the ageless primus inter pares, measures out a limited but highly exciting circle with measured, sensitive steps that miraculously mutates into a square. When Carter and Co. use songs such as Oscar Pettiford's Laverne Walk, Louis Bonfa's Samba De Orpheu, My Funny Valentine by Rodgers & Hart, the eponymous Golden Striker by John Lewis, but also enchanting originals such as Candle Light, Eddie's Theme and the dreamlike A Nice Song, then it's all about expression, form, a great line of aesthetics. This wooden body in the center of the stage leads a life alongside the obligatory walking bass like no other in the guild. Malone and Vega pass the balls to each other on the left and right. This is great, quiet art.