|
If Less Is More...Nothing Is Everything | 
 enlarge
| Artist: Kate Mcgarry
Label: Palmetto Records
Category: Music
List Price: $16.98
Buy New: $10.99
You Save: $5.99 (35%)
New (32) Used (8) from $10.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 12259
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 753957213527
EAN: 0753957213527
ASIN: B001CITQKY
Release Date: August 19, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Tracks:
| • | Let's Face The Music | | • | You're My Thrill | | • | Just What I Needed | | • | The Times They Are A-Changin' | | • | Caminhos Cruzados | | • | You Don't Have To Cry | | • | The Priest | | • | Flor de Lis | | • | I Carry Your Heart | | • | Man Of God |
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
In a contemporary jazz world that finds itself constantly in self-defense against the purist claim that smooth jazz has bastardized and commercialized the genre, Kate McGarry's If Less Is More… Nothing Is Everything is unusually safe. From start to finish, not much here inspires more than one listen. That said, there are a few saving graces that lift this effort above the typical coffee-shop open-mic performance, particularly some very nice organ accents in "You're my Thrill," "Just What I Needed," and "The Times They Are A-Changin'." "Flor de Lis"--featuring McGarry's not-so-offensive attempt at scatting-- has the most 'umph,' but the fairly bland saxophone solo deflates whatever charge the song builds to that point. The high point comes and goes with McGarry putting music to the e.e. cummings poem "I Carry Your Heart With Me." It's a romantic turn that works well, but grows boring and tiresome if heard in the context of the eight songs that precede it. Better luck next time. --Eric C.P. Martin
Product Description
I ve always been drawn to the space of silence between the notes. It s in the silence that the secrets of songs reveal themselves.
--Kate McGarry
If Less Is More...Nothing Is Everything (2008, Palmetto) finds Kate in a joyful, albeit introspective mood, covering everything from Jobim to The Cars, with a few originals (including a tender e.e. cummings poem set to music) rounding out the project.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
Kate, On a Roll, With Soul November 17, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Kate McGarry's "The Target" was one of the most noteworthy recordings of 2007; "Moss," a vocal jazz ensemble recording featuring Ms. McGarry (along with Peter Eldridge, Lauren Kinhan, Luciana Souza, and Theo Bleckmann), is one of the best recordings of this year; and now this. Without a doubt, Kate is on a roll!
The idea of the c.d.'s title is supposed to be that Ms. McGarry "sings the silences" of her songs. That she does, but she does more. She quickly finds the emotional essence in everything she does, and delivers her songs with focussed emotion. While she doesn't sound anything like Aretha Franklin or Bettye Lavette, she sings with soul. I mentioned in my review of "The Target" that she is a vocal Miles Davis, in terms of finding the core of emotion with minimal fuss; and this recording certainly supports my conclusion.
Take "I Carry Your Heart (With Me)", an old ee Cummings poem that Ms. McGarry has put to music. She did this on the "Moss" recording, and there it sounded great, albeit a bit academic. Here, it just sounds great; she sings the song here with emotion that she doesn't have to share with other singers.
And speaking of Moss, the most "Moss-like" song here but not on that album is the old Crosby Stills & Nash tune, "You Don't Have to Cry." The rendition here has more pizzazz than just about anything on that recording.
Assisting Ms. McGarry's soulful deliveries greatly are the organ of Gary Versace (esp. "You're My Thrill"), the tenor sax of Donny McCaslin (esp. "Let's Face the Music and Dance")and husband Keith Ganz' guitar (esp. Dylan's "The Times They Are a-Changin'" and "Man of God.") All in all, a beautifully produced affair by Mr. Balitsaris! Highly recommended. RC
Kate McGarry's Masterpiece September 26, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
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.
With all due respect September 23, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
As the producer of this recording I'm not really in a position to judge its merits, but over the years I've grown comfortable with reviews both positive and negative. I've had negative reviews that I thought were pretty accurate, and positive ones that were idiotic. But it's particularly irksome when the retailer itself uses a reviewer who is seemingly not conversant in either the genre of music or the English language. In almost thirty years I've never publicly complained about criticism. I reckon there's a first time for everything!
Another timeless recording... September 22, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have been a huge fan of Kate McGarry since I heard the first note of her first record. McGarry seems to truly define what it means to defy categorization. She's at one as at home as a great improviser as she is interpreting Paul Simon songs. Her originals are amazing as well (See Man Of God). She seems to explore the music with the touch of a caregiver--interpreting the lyrics in ways that seem to be exactly *why* they were written, in fact, they seem to be written for her. It's like she bundles up all of the beauty and pain of human existence in every note she sings. Listening to Kate is a revelation every time, I hope you enjoy listening as much as I do.
Great music and friend September 20, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
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.
|
|
|
|
