LIVE MUSIC - Otis & Friends - (Peter, Jared, and Stella)

The Otis Carter Duo was created when two veteran sidemen Peter Otis Hansen and Jaret Carter joined forces, taking their blues roots and merging them with smooth jazz themes to create what they call “Smooth Blue Jazz”, and formed the Otis Carter Duo.   

Peter Otis Hansen has been playing piano since the age of 6 when he asked his father (a classically trained pianist) if he could take lessons. Otis trained classically for the next 8 years before discovering rock and blues and started his first band at the age of 14.  Like most players Otis played in a number of local bands while in high school and college.  

Upon graduating from the University of Vermont Otis promptly started playing with the Capricorn recording artist James Montgomery Band out of Boston, touring extensively throughout New England.   He then put together The North End Rhythm Kings touring the Northeast.  Otis then did a series of gigs with Alex Taylor (brother of James Taylor) and the James Thomas Band before moving south to Atlanta to write and perform with the Coyote Band and then the Out A Hand Band.  

After 3 years in Atlanta Otis left for a vacation in Florida which turned into a nine year stint touring with Dr. Hook throughout the US and Europe as well as in England Scotland and Ireland and even Australia.   

Recently relocating to North Carolina Otis has joined up with Jaret Carter to form the Otis Carter  Duo – taking their blues roots and merging them with smooth jazz themes to create what they like to call Smooth Blue Jazz.  

Jaret Carter Multi-Instrumentalist, JARET CARTER, began his musical journey around age eight. He began with acoustic guitar but soon took up the electric and began playing in local groups in North Carolina.  Jaret plays various instruments including : Acoustic and electric guitars 6 and 12 string,  bottleneck slide guitar, mandolin, resophonic guitar/Dobro, Weissenborn, electric bass and lap steel.  By his twenties, his taste in music led him to studying jazz and blues by artists like Miles Davis, George Benson, Robben Ford, Lowell George and Ray Charles. Incorporating his slide technique that he had worked on for many years Jaret easily transformed into a brilliant Dobro player that shared the stage, or studio with such legends as Tony Rice, Bryan Sutton, Aubrey Haynie, Bobby Hicks, Charlie Waller & The Country Gentlemen, Doyle Lawson, Vassar Clements, Kenny and Amanda Smith, Jason Burleson, Tim Stafford, Sierra Hull, Jack Lawrence, Russ Kunkel and North Carolina based singer /songwriters Chris Church and Michael Reno Harrell. Jaret recorded on The Country Gentlemen CD, “Crying in the Chapel" which received a SPGBMA ,”Society to Preserve Bluegrass Music Association,” nomination for Bluegrass Gospel Event Of The Year Award. 

In 2005, Jaret teamed up with Darin Aldridge of The Darin/Brooke Aldridge Band and singer /songwriter Greg Luck, formerly of J.D.Crowe & The New South to form a contemporary bluegrass band called The Circuit Riders. This line-up produced a top ten hit with their rendition of Neil Youngs' “PowderFinger” with their debut CD “Let The Ride Begin.” The Circuit Riders also performed @ The International Bluegrass Music Associations' award show in Nashville, Tennessee.

After a 15 year stint in the acoustic bluegrass genre,  Jaret has formed a brand new project called Jaret Carter & “The Difference” as well as The Otis Carter Duo..  Both are electric projects that have returned to Jarets' initial passion for   traditional/contemporary electric blues and jazz. These two groups feature smooth jazz covers of Steely Dan, Miles Davis, Little Feat, Ray Charles, Branford Marsalis, & Robben Ford to name a few – as well as some originals sprinkled in as well.

Stella Whittle - Born and raised in a little town referenced as ‘The Town with ~Love~ in the middle,’ Clover, SC.  Stella began playing the piano and singing at the age of 6, and was the church pianist at the age of 9.  She continued to play the piano and sing throughout her teenage years, and was one of the top performers in the Choral Ensemble and Soloist.  “I enjoyed the blend of musical instruments and voices.”

Once out of school, Stella’s professional career as a Technology Engineer began to soar, leaving very little time for music.  During her 20’s, she became a Mother of 3 children.  She used her musical talent by singing and playing for them as infants. As they’ve grown into handsome young men, they have also embraced music by joining the Choral Ensemble, playing piano, and saxophone.  “I absolutely love that I can share my love of music with my boys.  After all, they are the reason I breathe.”

As a child, Stella dreamed of having a band and being able to perform for hundreds of people.  She was patient while working hard to make this dream come true.  “I enjoy music.  It’s my release to all that troubles me in the world.  I lose myself in music, it’s infinite.  You can get lost for as long as your soul has needs.”