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Ab Baars

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Ab Baars was born in 1955 in Axel, in Zeeland, and is a saxophonist and clarinettist in improvised music. He had piano lessons at five and played tenor saxophone at fifteen. He studied at the conservatoire in Rotterdam, where he explored classical music as well as jazz and rock. In 1989 he took clarinet lessons with John Carter in Los Angeles on a grant, and his 1997 album A Free Step contains music by Carter that had not been heard before.

Music and breakthrough

As a student Baars played in Orkest de Volharding and got to know people with whom he would often collaborate later, such as Ig Henneman, Guus Janssen, Misha Mengelberg and Wolter Wierbos. In 1986 he joined the ICP Orchestra. In 1989 he founded a trio with bassist Wilbert de Joode and drummer Martin van Duynhoven, and later invited Roswell Rudd as a guest. Since 1989 he has occasionally performed with the Dutch punk band The Ex. He recorded Hef, Sliptong and Cement, among others, with his own duo with Henneman.

Influence

Baars is an important voice in Dutch improvised music. He shows how jazz, contemporary composition and punk energy could coexist in the Netherlands, and how the saxophone and clarinet sound full of character within that mix.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a recording of his trio and notice how saxophone or clarinet, bass and drums answer one another as equals. Try to hear who takes the lead and when that changes.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Categories: Artists