History Ab Baars Trio

Amsterdam meets Chicago in this pairing of Dutch improv master Ab Baars’ eponymous trio and Chicago titan Ken Vandermark.

The Dutch group Ab Baars Trio is tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and shakuhachi flutist Ab Baars, bassist Wilbert de Joode, and drummer Martin van Duynhoven. Their sound is colorful, playful, and catchy. That is to say, the catchy-ness comes from their penchant for probing into limited material rather than from sounding poppy. That combined with their wacky use of rhythm makes the group's sound unique but accessible to audiences unacquainted with improvised music.

Ken Vandermark is a Chicago-based tenor saxophonist and clarinetist, named one of the most significant improvisers under forty by Downbeat magazine. He's one of the most influential improviser in the Chicago music scene, where he leads more than a dozen bands and curates events that showcase new music.

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