Biography

John Carter (1929-1991) was like the Pablo Picasso of the clarinet. As a prolific composer and clarinetist, he forged a new path for his instrument. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, he grew up with free jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman. He is known for his extreme mastery of the altissimo range of the clarinet, which he extended by nearly an octave. Carter composed a five-album suite entitled Roots and Folklore: Episodes in the Development of American Folk Music. Each album, including Dauwhe (1982), Castles of Ghana (1985), and Fields (1988) focused on particular periods of African American history. Critics gave favorable reviews to the complete suite, citing it as one of the best releases of the 1980s.