Critical Praise for If Less Is More, Nothing Is Everything
 
“This should be the year that McGarry breaks through for a Grammy nomination. If Less is More, Nothing is Everything is certainly worthy.”    - All About Jazz N.Y.
   
“If Less Is More, Nothing Is Everything is the third in a series of superb recent recordings by Ms. McGarry. ..austere and elegant …an exceptionally appealing blend of folk and jazz."  - Martin Johnson, Wall Street Journal
 
“If you want to know why there’s no greater influence on the young generation of post-Joni female jazz singer-songwriters than Kate McGarry, check out her cover of the Cars’ “Just What I Needed” — slow, mournful, with spare backing of ghostly organ, brushed drums, and acoustic guitar and bass. McGarry’s as beholden to folk and pop as to the tradition of Ella-Sarah-Betty, which she also happens to know cold.”   - Boston Phoenix
    
“Yep, lots of modern jazz singers are trying out lots of modern pop songs these days. So it takes a truly inspired choice matched with a truly accomplished performance to make a dent. Spin McGarry's hushed amble through the Cars' "Just What I Needed" to see how high the bar can be set. The singer's experimental tendencies are invariably lined with craft; she's taken with a tune's pliability, but she uses skill, not crossed fingers, to bend it. The proof is all over the new If Less is More…Nothing Is Everything.”    - Village Voice
 
“With a voice that soars with abundant hope, Kate McGarry creates music that makes you sit up and take notice… a modern jazz singer who is redefining the genre with a compelling body of work.”  - Icon Magazine

"McGarry's sense of musical authenticity is beautifully blended with her always-original musical vision."   - Don Heckman, The Los Angeles Times
 
"Rooted in an acute jazz sensibility and a passion for sophisticated pop songcraft, singer/songwriter Kate McGarry transforms all material-anything from Bjork to Jobim-into her own expressive worlds of drama, poetic, pitch-perfect but never prissy." - Owen McNally, Hartford Courant
 
"Astute and sensitive"   - New York Times
      
"McGarry is absolutely heartrending - she puts her whole soul into this performance. Her melodic lines are brilliantly conceived and executed. McGarry moves into the big leagues with this impressive release."    - Ted Gioia, Jazz.com

"Singer Kate McGarry employs her light, airy voice and intelligent way with words once again on her latest Palmetto release."     - Time Out N.Y
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"Saying more with less is the signature approach of singer/songwriter Kate McGarry, who delivers these songs straight from the heart in a sweet, pitch-perfect voice that has few parallels in any genre."  - AllAboutJazz.com

"At a time when there are so many vocalists performing in styles that hearken back two or more generations, Kate McGarry strikes me as a quiet yet fearless original voice.  She's not necessarily moving music ahead by shredding tradition but by incorporating so many different elements into her repertoire.-Hartford Courant.com

"On the brink of her fourth release, and possibly her best, she shows no sign of relaxing her high artistic standard. She's one to watch and savor."     - Santa Barbara News-Press
 

Critical Praise for THE TARGET

Named One of the best jazz-vocal cds of 2007 by both Downbeat Magazine and The New York Times

A milestone of maturity. No matter how many liberties she takes with meter and interpretation, she exercises a fidelity to the meaning of the song. McGarry has the pure untrammeled voice of an ingénue who finds wonder in the simplest of things **** 4 Stars ~ Kirk Silsbee, DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE

Kate McGarry is called a jazz vocalist, but she's hard to pin down. She draws on the music of her youth to inspire her—from the Irish tunes of her family's roots to musical theater to pop songs ~ Michelle Norris, NPR’s ALL THINGS CONSIDERED

Kate McGarry is the best of a new breed of jazz vocalists whose pop sensibilities are integrated into their music. ~David R. Adler PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

When McGarry sings, you hear not only a distinctively sweet, flexible, and textured voice, but a generous spirit, open heart, and searching intelligence. The Target is a very special CD from an artist who grows with every new project: Kate McGarry's talent is unique and powerful, and it's blossoming. ~Judith Schlesinger, ALL ABOUT JAZZ

"The pristine and lightly quavering sound of Kate McGarry’s voice doesn’t send up any flares identifying her as a jazz singer. But she certainly deserves the designation, as she confirmed with a well-rounded performance at the Jazz Standard on Thursday. " ~ NEW YORK TIMES

"The Target is delightful; simply delightful. Sometimes You've just got to get straight to the point." ~ JAZZ IMPROV MAGAZINE

A singer who's also a favorite among singers, McGarry's airy voice is used to fine advantage on The Target, delivering smart originals and sophisticated standards." ~ TIME OUT, NEW YORK

Kate McGarry has got it going on. She different than any other jazz singer I’ve known and the only one I find remotely in her league is Cassandra Wilson. They are not similar in vocal timbre but there is a sensibility about them that reveals great depth and daring and with that comes an astute ability to sing with wings.~ Beth Peerless, MONTEREY HERALD

McGarry embraces jazz’s freedom yet points the genre toward a future that’s as fresh and thrilling as it’s past. ~Michael McCall, NASHVILLE SCENE

(Kate McGarry) is a jazz singer with one of those effortless voices: She has articulation and intonation as clear as the spoken word without sacrificing an ounce of emotion, flips between registers as naturally as she blinks her eyes, can slide into collaborations with Chick Corea and Bobby McFerrin without breaking a sweat…~Chris Magyar, SANTA CRUZ REVIEW

Hyannis-raised McGarry’s folk-friendly pipes represent a delightful lift from predictable jazz singer fare. Organic and earthy yet also fluid and flexible, McGarry’s gift for expression makes this mixed set of originals and respectfully rendered classics soar. Add in her able quartet, including hubby Keith Ganz on guitar, and you’ve got a recipe for addiction. RATED A ~ BOSTON HERALD

McGarry's ever fascinating musical choices take another intriguing turn... reaching from several compelling originals to her unique renderings of standards. ~ LOS ANGELES TIMES