Rapp on Jazz: Terri Lyne Carrington

Published August 18, 2025 at 6:23 AM EDT

FILE - Drummer Terri-Lyne Carrington plays a set of drums with Zildjian cymbals, in a room of Zildjian cymbals, during the 380th anniversary of the famous cymbal maker in Norwell, Mass., on May 9, 2003. (AP Photo/Julia Malakie, File)

TRANSCRIPT:

I’m Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz

Grammy-winning drummer Terri Lyne Carrington’s career bridges generations, from touring with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter to founding the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice.

Her 2013 album Money Jungle: Provocative in Blue reimagines the iconic trio recording by Ellington, Mingus, and Roach, with fearless rhythm and fresh commentary. Her polyrhythms aren’t just technical—they’re thematic. They challenge, provoke, and inspire.

Carrington blends jazz, funk, hip-hop, and spoken word on her projects, layering rhythms that reflect America's complex stories.

She’s not only redefining what jazz sounds like—she’s reshaping who gets to define it. Through her music and mentorship, Carrington is helping to build jazz’s future.

This has been Rapp on Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and SC Public Radio, made possible by The ETV Endowment of South Carolina.