After she deliberately played the wrong ending note at a concert, the piano teacher suggested she take up the violin, indicating that the Suzuki Method could be more conducive to her creativity.

[3] Carter attended Cass Technical High School with a close friend, jazz singer Carla Cook, who introduced her to Ella Fitzgerald.

In high school, Carter performed with the Detroit Civic Orchestra and played in a pop-funk group named Brainstorm.

[4] Carter returned to the U.S. and first came into the spotlight as the violinist for the all female pop-jazz quintet Straight Ahead in 1987,[5] with Cynthia Dewberry, Gayelynn McKinney, Eileen Orr, and Marion Hayden.

They released a trio of albums on the Atlantic Jazz label including their self-titled debut, Body and Soul, and Look Straight Ahead.

[5] While in New York she was a relative unknown and undertook work accompanying performers such as Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, Billy Joel, and Dolly Parton.

[7] In December 2001, she played a concert in Genoa using Il Cannone Guarnerius, a violin that was made in 1743 and was once owned and favoured by Niccolò Paganini.

[9] I'll Be Seeing You: A Sentimental Journey, Carter's sixth CD, was conceived as a tribute album to her late mother, which included some of her favorites as well as American standards from the 1920s-1940s.

Some songs include "Blue Rose" (Duke Ellington), "Sentimental Journey" (Les Brown), "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" (Ella Fitzgerald), as well as "I'll Be Seeing You".

In May 2006, she toured with Darryl Harper (clarinet), Xavier Davis (piano), Alvester Garnett (drums) (still with her in 2011), and Matt Parish (Upright bass).

Though her work draws upon a wide range of musical influences – including Motown, Afro-Cuban, Swing, Bebop, Folk, and World – she has crafted a signature voice and style.

[15] As leader or co-leader With the String Trio of New York With Kenny Barron With Anthony Davis With Mark Helias With Elliott Sharp With Cassandra Wilson With Steve Turre With James Carter With Sir Simon Rattle, Luther Henderson, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Lena Horne With Carmen Lundy With Joe Jackson With Eddie Palmieri With Danilo Perez With Wynton Marsalis With the Soldier String Quartet With Dave Soldier