Regina Carter plays priceless Paganini violin during special concert at New York's Lincoln Center

Jet, Dec 1, 2003

Jazz violinist Regina Carter recently played the 260-year-old Paganini violin during a special, sold-out performance at the Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York.

The priceless instrument was crafted by Guarneri del Gesu in 1743. It once belonged to Niccolo Paganini, the greatest classical violinist in history.

"I heard the audience gasp when I played it," Carter tells JET of her performing with the instrument, nicknamed "The Cannon" because of the large, sonorous and dark-toned sound it produces.

Her performance at Lincoln Center marked the instrument's first visit to New York in three years.

Earlier that day during a press conference at the Italian Cultural Institute in New York, Carter played her instrument, a German violin, and "The Cannon" so that they could hear he difference in sound.

It is "much heavier and bigger," she says, than her instrument. That makes it that much more of a challenge to perform with.

"There is a lot of nervousness. It is difficult to play because the notes are in a different slot," she contends. "When it is not acting right, I feel like Paganini is messing with the player. Every stringed instrument is different. It has its own personality. It's like driving a car. Every car has a different feel."

Paganini bequeathed the violin to the city of Genoa, Italy, upon his death in 1840. Insurance for the violin estimates between the range of $30 million and $40 million. It is normally kept in a high-security vault in the Genoa city hall. After Carter's performance, it was escorted back to JFK airport for its return trip.

Carter is the first Black and the first jazz musician to play and record with the violin (JET, May 19, 2003). The instrument is usually only played by the winners of the famous Paganini competition.

Two years ago Carter was granted special permission by the City of Genoa to use the violin after pianist Werner "Vana" Gierig and his longtime friend, Andrea Liberovici, worked to make the historic connection.

"It taught me about working and looking at what you have right in front of you," she says. "Your friends can really help. You don't have to go outside yourself ... This has been definitely a blessing. It taught me so much. This was a huge learning experience."

Carter first performed with the violin in Genoa in December 2001 as a gesture of solidarity after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The audience at the event, titled A Night of Healing, gave her several standing ovations. Jazz had never been played on the instrument before.

"It was definitely a true blessing and an honor for the Italians to let me use it. It's like the universe said, "This is your reward," she says.

After that unforgettable experience two years ago, Carter felt it a must to record her latest album, Paganini: After A Dream. Two armed guards, a violin maker and a member of the committee in charge weren't far when she recorded in the studio in November of 2002.

"This was a passion for me. I had to make this record. Sometimes obstacles will come your way, but you should never give up if you feel strongly about something."

Making music history isn't new for Carter. She began taking piano lessons at 2 and violin at 4. By the age of 12, Carter had already made history as a musician when the Detroit native was the youngest person to join the Detroit Civic Symphony.

The new CD and her historic accomplishment have introduced her music to a broader scope of listeners.

"I've reached an audience that hadn't been reached before. There was a cross-blend of people at the concert. History is being documented. I'm amazed at the comments and what it does. I've reached an audience outside the jazz community. We're all pretty shocked."