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Nora McCarthy

Nora McCarthy has been a steady fixture on the New York music scene since 1996 when she recorded her first CD red&blue with pianist John diMartino, bass-Essiet Okon Essiet, drums-Alvester Garnett, t-sax-Mike Lee and percussionist, Sato Takeishi. She and her various groups have appeared in the top jazz rooms, performance spaces, concert halls, clubs, cafes and galleries in the city and elsewhere in the world. McCarthy possesses the earthiness of an early blues singer, the articulation, phrasing and timbre of a jazz trumpet. An adept and exhilarating improviser, she performs in every situation from duo to a twenty piece large ensemble from straight ahead jazz to the free and avant-garde idioms.

Nora's original compositions and arrangements (over 20) are stunning works of art and she is gifted poet and lyricist as well. Her powerfully moving delivery of the spoken word and interpretation of the lyric reflects a deep and intense emotional capacity that communicates directly to her audience heart to heart. Nora’s vocal identity, aside from a basic jazz orientation, defies classification, and makes spare use of reflexive stylistic mannerisms. In the placement of her voice, Nora can evoke the power of a Malian Diva’s fearless candor, or perhaps a Corsican Voceratrice’s call to invisible worlds in the language of dreams.Her shaping of pitch often foregoes the fluid note-bending of the jazz singer in favor of the full press of a sculptor’s touch against viscous clay.

Ms. McCarthy performs regularly throughout New York City and is a regular at The Bar Next Door in Greenwich Village with her Trio. Other recent performances include: The Latin Free Jazz Festival at Metro Baptist Church as a member of the ACE Collective; at the Why Not Jazz Room in Greenwich Village, The Shapeshifter Lab, Brooklyn, Brooklyn, El Taller Latino Americano; Medicine Show Theatre, NYC; ISIM – International Cross-Cultural Festival at New School University; Michiko Studios Music Series; Mount Morris Church in Harlem w/Craig Harris; Smalls Jazz Club, BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), Arlene’s Grocery, Flute Bar & Lounge, NY, Bar Thalia at Symphony Space, Trumpets, The Baha’i Center, NYC, The Iridium, NYC, Opia Restaurant & Lounge, Nighttown, Cleveland, Ohio, and Cornelia Street Café, NYC among numerous other venues throughout the New York State area which does not include her work as a poet and member of Butch Morris’ illustrious Chorus of Poets. Ms. McCarthy has also appeared at the Blue Note, Birdland, The Brucknerhaus in Linz, Austria, La Platea, Panama, American Culture Center, Podgorica, Montenegro.

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Extended Analysis

Jorge Sylvester Ace Collective: Spirit Driven

Read "Jorge Sylvester Ace Collective: Spirit Driven" reviewed by Florence Wetzel


In a 1967 interview with Jazz & Pop magazine, John Coltrane stated: “I know that there are bad forces, forces put here that bring suffering to others and misery to the world, but I want to be the force which is truly for the good." In his lifetime and beyond, Coltrane has inspired artists to infuse their work with this mission, and certainly alto saxophonist and composer Jorge Sylvester can be counted as one of Coltrane's heirs. Spirit Driven is ...

177
Album Review

Nora McCarthy/Jorge Sylvester: A Small Dream in Red

Read "A Small Dream in Red" reviewed by Florence Wetzel


A Small Dream in Red is a new CD as well as the name of the group composed of vocalist Nora McCarthy and alto saxophonist Jorge Sylvester. Inspired by painter Wassily Kandinsky's 1925 masterpiece of the same name, A Small Dream in Red is a joy of dynamic interplay between two diverse talents. McCarthy's roots include the American songbook, R&B, Brazilian music, and Hawaiian folk, and in recent years she's embraced--and been embraced by--the avant-garde. Sylvester, who studied at Karl ...

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138

Radio

Nora McCarthy NY Jazz Vocalist Joins UK Jazz Radio

Nora McCarthy NY Jazz Vocalist Joins UK Jazz Radio

Source: All About Jazz

UK Jazz Radio has announced that Nora McCarthy, an important force in the advanced New York jazz vocal scene, has joined the Presenter team at the 24 hour jazz radio station.

Nora McCarthy is a highly original singer, lyricist, composer, poet and educator. She and her various groups work at the top jazz venues in New York and elsewhere in the world.

In her programme, being broadcast several times across the week to give everyone the opportunity to catch the ...

186

Event

Nora McCarthy Celebrates "Circle Completing" at the Metropolitan Room

Nora McCarthy Celebrates "Circle Completing" at the Metropolitan Room

Source: All About Jazz

CIRCLE COMPLETING CD RELEASE SHOWCASE

Nora McCarthy, voice John di Martino, piano Jeffrey Carney, bass Tony Jefferson, drums

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30 One Incredible Show! 9:45pm $20 THE METROPOLITAN ROOM 34 WEST 22nd Street (between 5th & 6th Aves.) New York, NY 10010

Call or etix for Reservations: 212-206-0440 metropolitanroom.com

Known as a brilliant improviser with a warm and highly expressive voice, Nora McCarthy will ...

131

Recording

Nora McCarthy Releases an Exquisite Duet CD

Nora McCarthy Releases an Exquisite Duet CD

Source: All About Jazz

Known as a brilliant improviser with a warm and highly expressive voice, Nora McCarthy will release her newest recording, Circle Completing, January 15, 2009. The set of duets with pianist John di Martino sums up Ms. McCarthy’s colorful story so far, is a tribute to the legendary singer Jimmy Scott, and is a consistently surprising look at life’s lessons. “One has to experience life before singing these types of songs,” says Nora. Circle Completing, which is comprised of three of ...

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Performance / Tour

Nora McCarthy & Dominic Duval - Beyond Words Voice and Bass Duo -May 25, Cornelia Street Cafe, 6pm

Nora McCarthy & Dominic Duval - Beyond Words Voice and Bass Duo -May 25, Cornelia Street Cafe, 6pm

Source: All About Jazz

Gnu Vox Series Presents:

Nora McCarthy & Dominic Duval

Beyond Words - Voice and Bass Duo

THURSDAY - MAY 25, 2006 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm

The Cornelia Street Cafe 29 Cornelia Street between Bleecker & W. 4th New York, NY 212.989.9319 www.corneliastreetcafe.com Reservations Recommended But Not Required For information call 212.989.9319 $15 cover,$10 minimum food & drink

(www.noramccarthy.com) (www.dominicduval.com)

Vocal artist Nora ...

"If the listener has not heard Nora McCarthy before then blesSINGS is a great introduction to this mature singer who bestows passion and heartfelt humanity in large doses. Her tribute to Butch Morris is a cornerstone of all that is possible when one freely enters the magical world of music. From the get-go, Nora's voice and lyrics are captivating. "Love Poem for the People" is a great kick-off. Fantastic arrangements. Her connection to life in all its manifestations and positive energies really sing through you on the entire album. Her "Restless Mind" has such a beautiful dreamy quality that encourages minds to wander inside their beauty, is lovely. "The Blessing" is a really pure revelation. Terrific! A beautiful encouragement to look for and practice love in its many variations. Sylvester's sax is a gorgeous, uplifting alternative voice. All the musicians make significant contributions to McCarthy's lush vocal deliveries. "Passion Dance" really conveys her joyously letting go. "Nowhere Ever After" is a purely, magical testament to Butch Morris. I can easily visualize being held in his sway as he elicits soulful expressions. Amazing how he could hold us all in hand; shaping us to pour forth our very best. Nora really rose to the occasion on this one. Thank you Nora McCarthy and The People of Peace Quintet for transporting me to that listening space and for your magic." R.I. Sutherland-Cohen /www.jazzexpressions.org

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Primary Instrument

Vocals

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Through her vast experience in the jazz and creative music field, McCarthy also conducts various workshops and master classes that deal with, among other things, vocal empowerment.

Nora has developed a unique approach to teaching voice and improvisation and is founder of "The Zen Of Singing...The Spiritual Path To Finding Your Voice.”™

In April, 2007, Ms. McCarthy conducted a series of workshops and master classes in Podgorica, Montenegro for Jazz Appreciation Month entitled “From Dixieland to the Avant Garde and Free Music Art Forms..The Voices and Horns”

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Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Mayhem At Large - The...

RedZen Records
2021

buy

blesSINGS

RedZen Records
2016

buy

In the Language of...

Four (friends Of Unseen Rain)
2013

buy

Spirit Driven

Four (friends Of Unseen Rain)
2013

buy

A Time For Love

RedZen Records
2013

buy

Spirit Driven

Four (friends Of Unseen Rain)
2013

buy

Passion Dance

From: blesSINGS
By Nora McCarthy

You Are There

From: A Time For Love
By Nora McCarthy

Remember Haiti

From: Spirit Driven
By Nora McCarthy

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