Paul Carr featuring Joey Calderazzo

Main Stage Session 5 | Sunday, February 15, 2026 | 8:30 PM

Join us for an unforgettable Main Stage performance featuring Paul Carr and Joey Calderazzo, two giants of modern jazz coming together for one extraordinary evening. Experience a dynamic collaboration between Carr’s soulful saxophone and Calderazzo’s masterful touch on the piano — a performance certain to be among the festival’s most inspiring highlights.

About Paul Carr

Houston native Paul Carr, known as the Real Jazz Whisperer, is a saxophonist, educator, and curator dedicated to preserving and advancing the tradition of jazz.

He has been recognized by:

• ABC Channel 7 News as a Harris Hero (2012)

• Howard University as a Benny Golson Jazz Master (2014)

• Montgomery County, Maryland as Teacher of the Year (2015)

• The Jazz Journalists Association as a Jazz Hero (2019)

• The Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation with the DC Jazz Leaders in Service Award (2023)

• Howard University with the Blue Flame Award and as Keynote Commencement Speaker for the Chadwick Boseman College of Fine Arts (2024)

In 2025, Paul took on a prestigious new role as Assistant Professor of Saxophone and Director of the Howard University Jazz Ensemble (HUJE), marking a new chapter in his lifelong dedication to jazz education.

Paul has released 10 acclaimed recordings, many of which reached the Top 10 on the JazzWeek charts. His most recent release, Paul Carr Legacy Quartet, features an all-star lineup including bassist Buster Williams, pianist Bruce Barth, and drummer Lewis Nash.

As a performer, Paul has graced stages across South America, Europe, and the Middle East, including private events for President Bill Clinton and performances for the late King Hussein and Queen Noor of Jordan.

He leads five distinctive band configurations:

• The Paul Carr Quartet, showcasing his traditional jazz repertoire

• Paul Carr Legacy Quartet, featuring musicians he deeply admires

• Paul Carr Collective, a collaborative ensemble performing original and reimagined works

• Carr-Keys, a partnership with saxophonist Marshall Keys blending traditional and contemporary jazz

• The Mid-Atlantic Jazz Orchestra, celebrating the big band legacy

As Founder and Executive Artistic Director of the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, Paul has created one of the East Coast’s most respected annual jazz celebrations — a space where artistry, education, and community converge.

A devoted educator, Paul founded the Jazz Academy of Music, mentoring hundreds of young musicians who have gone on to study at prestigious institutions such as Howard University, Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, and Berklee College of Music. His students include rising stars like Braxton Cook, the Anderson twins, and Jason Marshall.

Paul continues to inspire the next generation of artists through his workshops, guest conducting, and clinics across the Mid-Atlantic region. He is currently authoring The Theoryless Approach to Jazz Improvisation, which he first presented to a standing-room-only audience at the Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference in San Diego.