NOMINATED FOR GRAMMY AWARD - BEST VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM 2009! — Strengthening her leadership role alongside Kurt Elling and Patricia Barber as one of the most captivating and challenging vocalists on the contemporary jazz scene,... more » Kate McGarry delivers, as its title suggests, an album of complex simplicity. McGarry says she has always been drawn to the space of silence between the notes. It is in these silences that the secrets of the songs reveal themselves.
Putting that theory into practice McGarry's opens with reading of LET'S YOU'RE MY THRILL that, in their stark beauty revel in the the intoxicating lure of the unknown. Beneath her cover of The Cars' JUST WHAT I NEEDED trepidation and defensiveness pull like overpowering undertows. The Dylan anthem THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN', which McGarry dedicates to Barack Obama, crackles with the fearless confidence of pure hope The naked adulatory i carry your heart (based on the e.e cummings poem) rides on gentle waves of soul deep contentment. McGarry's vibrant YOU DON'T HAVE TO CRY emerges as a chanting, pulsating, affirmation of self honesty. Most cunning are the intentionally oblique THE PRIEST and MAN OF GOD, wherein the quest for divinity (and the accompanying burden of supposed infallibility) is questioned, but the answer is left for our hearts to individually pursue. - JAZZ TIMES MAGAZINE Oct 08 issue« less
NOMINATED FOR GRAMMY AWARD - BEST VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM 2009!
Strengthening her leadership role alongside Kurt Elling and Patricia Barber as one of the most captivating and challenging vocalists on the contemporary jazz scene, Kate McGarry delivers, as its title suggests, an album of complex simplicity. McGarry says she has always been drawn to the space of silence between the notes. It is in these silences that the secrets of the songs reveal themselves.
Putting that theory into practice McGarry's opens with reading of LET'S YOU'RE MY THRILL that, in their stark beauty revel in the the intoxicating lure of the unknown. Beneath her cover of The Cars' JUST WHAT I NEEDED trepidation and defensiveness pull like overpowering undertows. The Dylan anthem THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN', which McGarry dedicates to Barack Obama, crackles with the fearless confidence of pure hope The naked adulatory i carry your heart (based on the e.e cummings poem) rides on gentle waves of soul deep contentment. McGarry's vibrant YOU DON'T HAVE TO CRY emerges as a chanting, pulsating, affirmation of self honesty. Most cunning are the intentionally oblique THE PRIEST and MAN OF GOD, wherein the quest for divinity (and the accompanying burden of supposed infallibility) is questioned, but the answer is left for our hearts to individually pursue. - JAZZ TIMES MAGAZINE Oct 08 issue
"Kate McGarry is a glorious, beautiful talent and human being. She has a clear and glorious singing voice, is a soulful writer of words and melody, a creative and respected band leader - and committed public servant by sharing all of these gifts with the world. Kate is admired by her many fans, and is a true musican's musician. It's a privilege to watch someone like her evolve and share her life experiences through music with each and every recording.
Clearly, Amazon's Eric C.P. Martin could learn a great deal from Kate and band in the humility and grace department. I'm deepy surprised to see something like this allowed to be used as the editorial for her new record. There must be more care in how a musician is represented if a staff writer takes on this task. Can't find anything nice to say? Then post her Bio or glowing NY Times review."
Well-deserved 2008 Grammy nomination for this album!
Boxy | Durham, NC | 12/05/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"We all have our bad days on the job, even Amazon music reviewers. A really, really, shamefully bad day, in this case. I sure hope that customers considering this album will take the time to read all the other editorial reviews posted here, as well as the listener reviews. But if they don't, maybe the fact that this album was nominated for a 2008 Grammy will make the difference. It is wonderful to see this album get the positive recognition it deserves.
This album blew me away on first listen, but has amazed me more and more with each listen. That's the beauty of Kate, IMHO, I could listen to just one tune over and over and always hear one more thing I just HAVE to play again, to savor, enjoy, and marvel at.
I invite you to do the same."
She just keeps getting better and better!
M. Rosen | Santa Barbara, CA USA | 08/23/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've been a fan of Kate McGarry for many years - and this new album totally pays for my enthusiasm. It's deep, it's smooth, it's easy to listen to over and over and over again - yet it holds a power that makes it so compelling. Just as the title says- "Less Is More" - the use of space and silence enliven each and every song in the album with great awareness, and never in a studied or contrived way. Here is a master coming more and more into her own. HIgh marks!"
Unimaginable Depth
Gypsy | Hollywood, CA | 12/09/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The depth of emotion that Kate McGarry is able to convey through her music amazes me with every new effort. She gets inside of each tune in a way that is unlike other singers in the genre... truly remarkable. When I read that this album was nominated for a Grammy, it alleviated any doubt that the Recording Academy lacked a true knowledge of contemporary jazz. Their recognition of this recording shows that they understand the evolution of the music and the potential virtuosity of the vocal instrument -- even at its most pared down state.
Kudos to Ms. McGarry and the other stellar musicians on this offering!"
Kate McGarry's Masterpiece
J. Breithaupt | 09/26/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Kate McGarry's stunning new album, "If Less is More...Nothing is Everything," is an autumnal album for the new season, a sometimes harrowing, sometimes whimsical, sometimes thrilling collection of standards (Great American Songbook-era and rock-era alike) and originals. McGarry and her amazing ensemble start things off with a darkly knowing, timely interpretation of "Let's Face the Music." Although the classic Irving Berlin song was written as an acknowledgement of romantic transience ("there may be trouble ahead..."), here, with spooky, shimmering organ lines and McGarry's mournful vocal, it feels like nothing less than a harbinger of "last days." Call it "samba apocalyptica." This track along is well worth the price of admission (check out the moment 3-plus minutes in when McGarry purrs along with guitarist Keith Ganz's solo). But it doesn't end there. Track 2 takes an entirely different approach, with a wonky, quirky "You're My Thrill." You can practically hear McGarry smiling while she's singing. Then, maybe best of all, comes a stirring take on Ric Ocasek's Cars-era hit, "Just What I Needed." The album twists and turns from there, all of it underscored by the superb ensemble playing of her band and overscored by the inventive, thoroughly satisfying interpretive splendour of McGarry's voice."