World-Renowned Violinist Joins Forces With OU Jazz Quartet For Jimi Hendrix Tribute

DETROIT (WWJ) - A world-renowned jazz musician is returning home to Detroit this weekend to pay special tribute to a legendary guitarist.

Regina Carter and the Oakland Jazz Quartet are joining forces for a night of music exploring the work of legendary rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix on Saturday, Jan 17 at The Carr Center, located at 311 East Grand River.

Carter said the idea of a tribute to the late great guitarist came about at first as a joke after she played one of his songs during rehearsal.

"Miles Brown, who is the director of the jazz department basses, said 'Oh, that would make a great concert' and I said 'Yeah, let's do it.' He thought I was kidding and I was like 'No! Let's really do this,'" Carter told WWJ's Stephanie Davis.

Carter, a Cass tech grad who is also an Oakland University alum, said this is one of the most exciting productions she has been apart of.

"It's just a fun project to try and figure out how to do these tunes and take them and not have the screaming guitar, if you will, but to use altered techniques on our instruments to try and maybe emulate those sounds," she said.

The Grammy nominee also has a couple of Jimi Hendrix favorites she can't wait to play.

"I've chosen to do 'Easy Rider' and 'Waterfall' and 'May This Be Love,' which is a really beautiful tune," she said.

Tickets -- $20 general, $10 students -- can be purchased at the door, by phone at 1-800-585-3737, or online at www.startickets.com.