Real Jazz Whisperer

(2021) A “Whisperer” is a person that uses whispers and gentle persuasion in training. As a “Whisperer” for Real Jazz I have worked for many years, performing, recording, teaching and for the past 11 years producing the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival. I started this journey teaching when my saxophone teacher at Texas Southern University, Laura Hunter, asked me to teach about 35 of her middle school private students. You know, right from the beginning, I dug it. I really dug it. Teaching has never been something I dreaded. I have always thought it was my way of fixing what I thought was wrong in music, and jazz in particular. Now some 35 years later, I am extremely proud and honored to have taught and still teach some immensely talented students. They are touring the world playing jazz and leading their own bands. Many of my former students are running their own music programs in secondary schools, colleges and Universities stateside and abroad.

When pianist Allyn Johnson wrote the “Real Jazz Whisperer” for me during his “Meet The Artist” Series, someone in the audience said, “That tune sounds just like Paul”. I realized that this CD could serve as a demonstration of the principles that I teach.