Biography

Paul Carr

Paul is the Assistant Professor of Saxophone/Director of Jazz Ensemble. A Houston native, Paul Carr, known as the Real Jazz Whisperer, is a saxophonist, educator, and curator.

He has been recognized by:

• ABC Channel 7 News as a Harris Hero in 2012,

• Howard University, his alma-mater, recipient of the Benny Golson Jazz Master in 2014,

• Montgomery County Maryland, as teacher of year in 2015,

• The Jazz Journalist Association as a Jazz Hero in 2019. 

• The Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation, recipient of the DC Jazz Leaders in Service Award in 2023

• Howard University, recipient of the Blue Flame Award and Keynote Commencement Speaker Howard University Chadwick Boseman College of Fine Arts in 2024.

• The DC Legendary Musicians, Inc. DC Musical Heritage Preservation Award, 2026  “In recognition of distinguished leadership in preserving and advancing the rich musical traditions of Washington, DC through performance, mentorship, education, and cultural stewardship.”

Saxophonist

Paul has released 10 recordings, many of which reached the top 10 ranking on the Jazz Week chart.  His most recent recording is Paul Carr Legacy Quartet, featuring the great Bassist Buster Williams, pianist Bruce Barth, and renown drummer Lewis Nash.

Paul has also performed and/or recorded with jazz greats such as Joey Calderazzo, Brian Lynch, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Mulgrew Miller, Orin Evans, Chris Potter, Bobby Watson, Kirk Whalum, and Steve Wilson.

He has appeared on stages around the world, including South America, Europe, and the Middle East, and has performed at numerous private events for President Bill Clinton, as well as for the late King Hussein and Queen Noor of Jordan at their residence in Aqaba, Jordan.

He leads six  professional band configurations: the Paul Carr Quartet, which showcases Paul's traditional jazz recordings; the Paul Carr Legacy Quartet, featuring renowned musicians he admires; the Paul Carr Collective, in which Paul collaborates with a rotating group of musicians to present the members' original compositions and arrangements; Carr-Keys, a partnership between Paul Carr and Marshall Keys that melds traditional and contemporary jazz styles to expand audience appreciation for both; and finally the Jazz DC Allstars, presented by the DC Jazz Festival, and the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Orchestra, presented by the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival — both of which celebrate the big band sound and beyond.

Curator

Paul established the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival (MAJF) in 2010 serving as its Executive and Artistic Director. The MAJF showcases national and regional talent and includes a huge jazz education component. The awe-inspiring Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival is held every President’s Day weekend in Rockville, Maryland where over 3,000 attendees travel from across the nation.  Paul also serves as consultant/advisor to the DC Jazz Festival, Silver Spring Jazz Festival and True-Blue Jazz Festival. In 2026, he assumed the role of Director of the JazzDC™ All-Stars, a professional jazz orchestra presented by the DC Jazz Festival.

Educator

As founder of the Paul Carr Jazz Academy of Music, Paul has been a distinguished educator for children and young adults; many of whom have been admitted to and attend prestigious institutions such as Howard University, Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, and Berklee College of Music and Temple University.  Several of Paul’s private students are stars on the jazz scene today including Braxton Cook, Peter and William Anderson and Jason Marshall, to name a few. Paul also mentored trumpeter and Director of Jazz Studies at Temple University, Terell Stafford and alto saxophonist Bruce Williams.  Paul served as Professor and Jazz Band Director at Gettysburg College until 2021. He frequently serves as guest conductor and clinician at high school jazz band festivals in the Mid-Atlantic region from Virginia to Pennsylvania.  He served as a panelist at the Congressional Black Caucus where he spoke on the importance of jazz education and advocated for a Bill that was circulating in Congress to offer federal support toward the advancement and preservation of traditional Jazz.  

Paul is currently writing a book to codify his teaching techniques, “The Theoryless Approach to Jazz Improvisation”.  He presented the techniques and philosophies contained in the book at the Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference in San Diego to a standing room only crowd and was subsequently invited to present to the students at Michigan State University where he completed a 3-day residency.