" data-original-title="" title="">Kendall Carter's debut album, aptly titled Introducing Kendall Carter, is akin to taking a pleasant stroll through a park on a warm and sunny day. While Carter is technically flawless, he doesn't overwhelm the listener with waves of sound but plays organ from a pianist's point of view, sacrificing sheer volume on the altar of celerity and tastefulness. That stands to reason, as Carter studied piano at the University of Louisville and is equally at home on either instrument.

The choice of organ for his coming-out party may have been dictated at least in part by the fact that jazz pianists abound in almost every crevasse and corner while the pool of topnotch jazz organists is relatively shallow. Whatever the rationale, Carter makes his mark with a winning combination of poise and musicality. The astuteness extends as well to his choice of sidemen: guitarist