The music written by John Carter (1929-1991) has an open sound which does full justice to the idiosyncrasies of the clarinet. The Texan composer wrote typically American music, with elements of jazz, country blues, African and modern chamber music. Since the 1970s the Amsterdam-based saxophone and clarinet virtuoso Ab Baars has had a special relationship with Carter, with whom he studied in 1989. He arranged several compositions by Carter performed by his own Ab Baars Trio, included on the CD Free Step.

Ab Baars reeds, Wilbert de Joode bass, Martin van Duynhoven drums