John Carter – A Suite of Early American Folk Pieces for Solo Clarinet (CD2086)

One man, one clarinet and the roots of American music. On this solo album, John Carter, one of the great clarinettists of modern jazz, plays six of his own pieces, all inspired by early African-American folk music. It was recorded on August 16, 1979 at Studio 57 in Düsseldorf.

The titles show where the journey goes. “Fast Fannie’s Cakewalk” picks up one of the earliest African-American dance forms. “Johnetta’s Night Song” and “Star Bright” are tender and lyrical. “Buddy Red, Doin’ the Funky Butt” brings the spirit of early New Orleans, “Earnestine’s Dilemma” tells a little story without words, and “A Country Blues” goes back to the blues of the rural South. Carter uses the clarinet’s full range, from warm low tones to piercing high notes, multiphonics and split tones, while always staying melodic and full of character.

For many listeners this album is the unofficial prelude to Carter’s later masterpiece, the five-part cycle Roots and Folklore. A must for fans of solo clarinet, avant-garde jazz and the history of African-American music. Released on Moers Music. When you buy here, you’re buying directly from the label, and we only sell originals.

The Side Story

August 1979 was an amazing month for John Carter. After his acclaimed performances at the Moers Festival with German clarinettist Theo Jörgensmann, he went into Studio 57 in Düsseldorf. On August 15 he recorded the quintet album Variations (CD2084) with Bobby Bradford, James Newton, Bob Stewart and Phillip Wilson. The very next day, he came back alone and recorded this solo album.

Carter came from Fort Worth, Texas, where he went to school with Ornette Coleman and drummer Charles Moffett. For years he played saxophones and flute as well, but by the late 1970s the clarinet had become his only instrument. It gave him more freedom to break with tradition. In the 1980s he was part of the Clarinet Summit with David Murray, Alvin Batiste and Jimmy Hamilton, and between 1982 and 1990 he recorded Roots and Folklore, five albums about African-American history that critics count among the best of the decade. The ideas behind that cycle can already be heard on this album.

Tracklist

1. Fast Fannie’s Cakewalk – 9:30

2. Johnetta’s Night Song – 6:20

3. Star Bright – 3:27

4. Buddy Red, Doin’ the Funky Butt – 6:38

5. Earnestine’s Dilemma – 6:27

6. A Country Blues – 6:00

All compositions by John Carter. Total running time: approx. 38 minutes

Personnel

• John Carter – clarinet

Details

• Format: CD

• Label: Moers Music

• Catalog no.: CD2086 (originally released on LP as Moers 02014)

• Recorded: August 16, 1979, Studio 57, Düsseldorf, Germany

• Price: €14.00