You can hear the story in his hands.
From Baltimore basement jams to European stages, Ricky Carter has spent the last two and a half decades carving out a space where groove meets grace. A percussionist with deep roots and even deeper feel, Carter’s style defies easy labels—equal parts jazz, ambient, folk, and cinematic noir. But one thing remains constant: his commitment to serving the song. Whether he’s anchoring a minimalist ballad or navigating experimental textures, Carter brings an intuitive touch that elevates the music without ever crowding it.
His path began early—playing clubs as a teenager with a permission note from his grandmother and a fire in his chest. He honed his craft through classical and jazz studies with mentors like Jennifer Judkins (UCLA), John “Terry” Tarribasso (Stan Kenton Orchestra), and David Rothenthal (San Francisco Ballet), balancing precision with emotional intelligence. That dual fluency has made him a trusted collaborator for artists across the sonic spectrum.
Carter’s credits include sessions and performances with an eclectic mix of forward-thinking artists: from Erica Lindsay’s Parallel Universe and Robert Rich’s Ylang to songwriter-driven projects like A Beautiful Year and the genre-blurring collective Jack West and Curvature. In every setting, his playing listens as much as it leads.
Now based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Carter remains a drummer in motion—splitting time between session work, live performance, and his own expanding body of compositions. At heart, he’s still that kid behind the kit, chasing the moment when rhythm becomes language.