Carboplatin and ABI-007 in Treating Patients With Stage IV Melanoma That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed unresectable stage IV melanoma * Measurable disease * Must have formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue available for secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) analysis pre-treatment (Mayo Clinic patients must be willing to submit a repeat biopsy at time of tumor progression) * Brain metastases allowed provided they were previously treated with no progression for ≥ 3 months * Patients with known brain metastases may receive concurrent steroid treatment PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-2 * Life expectancy ≥ 3 months * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL (may be transfused to meet this requirement) * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN (elevated bilirubin allowed in patients with documented Gilbert's syndrome) * AST ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 1 month after completion of study therapy * No uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, the following: * Active infection * Congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association class III-IV heart disease) * No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin previously treated with local resection only or carcinoma in situ of the cervix PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered from prior therapy * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * At least 4 weeks since prior interferon or interleukin-2 * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (cohort 1 ) * No prior chemotherapy in the metastatic setting (cohort 2) * No prior treatment for melanoma with any of the following agents: * Platinum chemotherapy (e.g., carboplatin or cisplatin) * Taxanes (e.g., paclitaxel or docetaxel) * Paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation (ABI-007) * No other concurrent chemotherapy * No other concurrent investigational agents * No concurrent radiotherapy, including palliative radiotherapy