Douglas Ewart
b. 13 September 1946, Kingston, Jamaica. Ewart moved to Chicago in 1963 and later studied music at the AACM. His early influences included Charles Mingus, Clifford Brown and Eric Dolphy, the latter's example persuading Ewart to learn bassoon and bass clarinet in addition to alto and other saxophones and flute. He has played with many of his AACM colleagues, recording with (for example) Roscoe Mitchell( SKETCHES FROM BAMBOO), Muhal Richard Abrams ( LIFEA BLINEC), Anthony Braxton ( FOR TRIO), Leo Smith ( BUDDING OF A ROSE) and Henry Threadgill, in the X-75 group. In particular, Ewart formed an association with trombonist George Lewis in 1971 that has continued through to the present: he plays on several of Lewis's projects ( CHICAGO SLOW DANCE, SHADOWGRAPH, HOMAGE TO CHARLES PARKER) and has recorded a duo album with him. Leader of a clarinet quartet (Red Hills), Ewart is also an accomplished instrument-maker, particularly renowned for his beautifully-crafted Ewart flutes.