OPEN THE DOOR: The Life and Music of Betty Carter

Born Lillie Mae Jones in Detroit, Betty Carter (1929–1998) enjoyed early success performing with major stars like Lionel Hampton, Miles Davis and Ray Charles. During the British rock invasion of the 1960s, her career ground almost to a halt, and she made a comeback only in the late '70s. Carter's career was also influenced by her fierce and uncompromising perfectionism: she frequently fired band members and fought a continuing struggle to maintain control over her recordings. In this first full-length biography of the singer, Bauer, an assistant professor at Rutgers University, details the changes in jazz styles, performance venues and recording market throughout Carter's 50-year career. While Bauer skillfully interweaves his discussion of Carter's compositions and performances with her life story, readers interested in Carter's life will have to skim through the detailed musical analyses. It is doubtful that even many musicians will get much from Bauer's rather academic technical discussions, although the 15 transcriptions of Carter performances may pique the interest of aspiring singers. 16 photos, 20 illus. (Mar.)