Carter and ‘Elders’: Some Fine Improvising : JAMES CARTER “Conversin’ With the Elders” Atlantic (** 1/2)

James Carter very nearly goes over the top on this one. The potential, always present in this superbly talented young saxophonist, of permitting his ebullient articulateness to distract him from concentrating on developing ideas almost overpowers a few of the tracks.

The album concept--a good one--was to pair the historically enlightened Carter with a number of his noble predecessors. In some cases, the pairings result in some fine improvising, as with Buddy Tate on “Blue Creek” and “Moten Swing”; with Harry “Sweets” Edison on “Centerpiece”; and with Larry Smith on “Parker’s Mood.”

But there are also spots, fortunately few in number, that are less appealing. A baritone duet with Hamiet Bluiett on Anthony Braxton’s “Composition #40Q” has the charm of a pair of mating rhinos, and the excellent soloing in “Atitled Valse,” with Carter and Lester Bowie, is framed in a pointlessly silly line.

Here, as in other places (such as his baritone saxophone chorus on “Naima”), Carter falls prey to an inexplicable tendency to satirize some of the material. When he is good, he is very good; when he is bad, Carter is simply squandering his skills.

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