Tony Cummings pitched a batch of questions at acclaimed guitarist JASON CARTER, recently returned from Afghanistan

Jason Carter

Down the years guitarist Jason Carter has developed an international following. His consummate guitar skills, his willingness to travel to far flung places of the world and critically acclaimed albums both as an accompanist and as instrumental virtuoso have meant that Jason's reputation and popularity are still on the increase. Now his latest album 'In And Out Of Time' featuring the harp guitar has been released. Having recently returned from Afghanistan, Jason took time out of his busy schedule to answer a batch of our questions.

Tony: You have a new album out featuring a harp guitar. What on earth is a harp guitar?

Jason: The harp guitar is a baroque Instrument, it barely survived. I came across it after watching a DVD of Michael Hedges playing "Because It's There". The rich extra bass strings were the thing for me. I have always been tuning down to a low A with my bottom E string. The harp guitar also resonates in a completely different way, as the body/chamber is so much larger than a regular guitar.

Tony: You seem to delight in recording albums in far away places and with plenty of non-Brits involved.

Jason: I am curious about the world, especially the more restricted areas of the world. Hence my concerts in North Korea, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. The harp guitar album was composed mostly on the road, as much of my music is, so "Restless" and "I Believe", for instance, were born in Afghanistan. I am more creative whilst on the road, more time to reflect, etc.

Tony: You have a large support base among Christians though clearly your music being instrumental has appeal for everyone. How would you say your faith affects your creativity?

Jason: I have a great network of Christians/close friends around the world, which is a huge blessing. I would say that my faith is at the centre of my creativity - I would have no idea how to separate them. I believe that we desperately need more Christians to leap into the sphere of the arts and embrace a broken, tired and confused world.

Tony: You recently undertook a trip to Afghanistan which to an outsider seems a particularly dangerous place to go.

Jason: To be honest, the Afghans made me feel so safe and at home, that it did not feel dangerous whilst in their company. I was only aware of the dangers when noticing a few tanks and lots of guns whilst in and around the city. Plus the high security at the British Council Compound, rocket nets and three metre thick walls, sandbags, plus a wonderful group of Gurkhas watching over us. In fact I would see more news about Afghanistan from the BBC website whilst in Kabul than I actually experienced myself.

Tony: Give me a couple of vivid memories of your trip to Afghanistan.

Jason: The landing in the UN plane. Landing in a war zone had to be as fast as possible, so in other words, straight down towards the ground. But the main memories come from my students at Kabul University, their relentless sense of hope amidst the awful conditions in Afghanistan. 30 years of war has brought the country to its knees, and yet almost everyone I met were fighting a non-violent war of hope and peace. I felt accepted and also protected by the Afghans, they have an awesome sense of brotherhood which I have never experienced anywhere else in the world.

Tony: Are there more explorations of ethnic music to come from Jason Carter?

Jason: Oh yes! I think until the day I die! In 2010/11 I will be making a circumnavigation of the world, including concerts and collaborations in North Korea, Afghanistan, Iran, Burma, Siberia, South Pole, Argentina and 23 other countries. I hope to film my travels.

Tony: What Scripture verses have impacted you the most in the last couple of years?

Jason: Proverbs 3 v 6, this one has been with me since I was about eight years old. "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Also 2 Kings 3 v 15: "But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him." This one is very special to me, it speaks about the importance of the arts in society. And then there's Mathew 28 v 20: "I am with you always, until the end of the world" - what an amazing promise!

Tony: Name your three favourite guitarists.

Jason: Michael Hedges, Paco de Lucia and Pat Metheney. Three quite different players, each of whom has had a great impact on me at certain times in my life. I must say also that Phil Keaggy has been a great inspiration, another believer, "out there" playing guitar.

Tony: Tell me about a forthcoming project we may not know about.

Jason: Well, I am developing ideas with the opera singer Stuart Pendred which I am sure will develop into a project. Plus there's a new harp guitar recording underway. The harp guitar has given me so many new ideas because of the sustain and the extra bass strings.