This is a perfect description of Carlton, as he has been associated with various areas witin the musical world, and continues to be a first call musician in the performance and recording industry.

His flowing, incisive style & a firm respect for the inherent tradition of various music genres has made him a natural choice for local, national, and international projects. This awareness has led to his performances appearing in feature films, television and radio.

Celebrating the diverse musical community which continually engages him, Carlton brings his distinctive style to each musical endeavor.

A native of Portland, Oregon, his well-documented work with contemporary jazz pianists Tom Grant and Dan Siegel, guitarists Dan Balmer and Terry Robb, Blues/R&B singer Curtis Salgado, country-pop singer Toni Land and iconoclastic composer Jon Newton, have solidified his status as an engaging, versatile performer.

A further sampling of the artists whom Carlton has worked with includes the legendary "Father of the Jazz Walking Bass" Leroy Vinnegar, as well as other greats such as Billy Eckstine, Bo Diddley, Pete Rugolo, Norman Leyden, Jeff Tyzik, Jerry Hahn, Darol Anger, Maryann Price, Mark Isham, Jim Pepper, Bobby Torres (Joe Cocker, Tom Jones), James Cotton, Houston Person, comedian Don Rickles, actor Bruce Willis, Melissa Walker, Barbara Lewis Dianne Schuur, Larry Coryell, Danny Barnes, Bill Frisell, and Gordon Lee (in Trio & Big Band settings.)

Carlton is a 2008 inductee of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.