In an often-quoted phrase, James Carter, 27, has been called "the most exciting young saxophonist to arrive on the scene in the last 25 years." His records have made year-end best-of lists in the New York Times and the Village Voice, where his debut Atlantic release, the Real Quietstorm, was the only jazz recording in a list filled with the best of rock, pop, hip-hop, and soul releases from 1995. On his latest release, Conversin' with the Elders, Carter engages in a series of impromptu dialogues with "some of the musicians who have influenced me, on or off stage..." such as, Lester Bowie, Hamiet Bluiett, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Buddy Tate, Larry Smith, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Anthony Braxton, and Bennie Moten. Says Carter, "I thought the best way to show my appreciation to them was to have them participate on a recording celebrating the music that brought US together."