The Clarinet Summit

John Carter assembled an extraordinary ensemble for a performance at New York's Public Theatre, featuring David Murray on bass clarinet alongside clarinetists Alvin Batiste, Jimmy Hamilton, and Carter himself. During the event, Hamilton, who spent 26 years in Duke Ellington's Orchestra, joined the adaptable Batiste in delivering impromptu swing passages, while Carter and Murray explored more experimental territories in their solos, allowing mutual inspiration among the quartet. This live recording appeared across a pair of India Navigation LPs, later compiled onto a single CD reissue. The ensemble reconvened in 1987 to produce a studio album issued by Black Saint.