Paul Carr - Musically Yours (2008)

Musically Yours is veteran jazz educator Paul Carr's third CD as a leader, an impressive outing in tribute to the late Joe Henderson. Joined by pianist Mulgrew Miller, trumpeter Terell Stafford, bassist Michael Bowie, and drummer Lewis Nash (all but Stafford worked with Henderson), the powerful tenor saxophonist interprets five songs penned by Henderson while also covering pieces he recorded and adding a pair of originals. Carr's authoritative tenor dominates Henderson's intense "Our Thing" and the fiery Latin-flavored blues "Mamacita.," while the shimmering rendition of "Black Narcissus" is a powerful duet by Carr and Miller. Carr also delivers a buoyant performance of Henderson's bossa nova adaptation of Cole Porter's "Night and Day." The leader's two originals include the infectious opener "Musically Yours" and the breezy blues "Classroom Agenda." To close the CD, Carr plays an inventive solo interpretation of Tadd Dameron's "'If You Could See Me Now."