Chris McCarthy, noted as โone of the most impressive and original pianists on the New York jazz sceneโ by Hot House Jazz Magazine, is thrilled to announce the release of his Ropeadope debut, Still Time To Quit, out April 3rd. With this album, McCarthy steps into the foreground as a singular composer and bandleader after establishing himself as a first-call sideman for many. McCarthyโs band of world class improvisers includes trumpeter Takuya Kuroda, saxophonist Michael Blake, bassist Sam Minaie and drummer Jongkuk Kim.
An in-demand sideman, Chris McCarthy can be heard on a multitude of recent gems. He backed renowned trumpeter Jason Palmer on his release At Wallyโs Vol. 1, Sasha Berliner on her acclaimed new album Azalea, and two releases for Ropeadope: Jared Simsโ The New York Sessions and Akinola Sennonโs Cousoumeh. On stage, McCarthy can be found in duet with vocalist Clotilde Rullaud, playing with acclaimed bandleaders Jerry Bergonzi, Ben Allison, and Dan Blake, and accompanying fast-rising peers Tony Glausi and Vanisha Gould....
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Chris McCarthy, noted as โone of the most impressive and original pianists on the New York jazz sceneโ by Hot House Jazz Magazine, is thrilled to announce the release of his Ropeadope debut, Still Time To Quit, out April 3rd. With this album, McCarthy steps into the foreground as a singular composer and bandleader after establishing himself as a first-call sideman for many. McCarthyโs band of world class improvisers includes trumpeter Takuya Kuroda, saxophonist Michael Blake, bassist Sam Minaie and drummer Jongkuk Kim.
An in-demand sideman, Chris McCarthy can be heard on a multitude of recent gems. He backed renowned trumpeter Jason Palmer on his release At Wallyโs Vol. 1, Sasha Berliner on her acclaimed new album Azalea, and two releases for Ropeadope: Jared Simsโ The New York Sessions and Akinola Sennonโs Cousoumeh. On stage, McCarthy can be found in duet with vocalist Clotilde Rullaud, playing with acclaimed bandleaders Jerry Bergonzi, Ben Allison, and Dan Blake, and accompanying fast-rising peers Tony Glausi and Vanisha Gould.
While McCarthy is the bandleader and all the compositions are his, Still Time To Quit is a group effort by design, featuring the same band on all 8 tracks. Takuya Kuroda is a fast rising star with two critically acclaimed albums to his name: Rising Son and Zigzagger. Michael Blake has been an enduring presence on the New York scene for over 30 years having played with everyone from Charlie Hunter to Oliver Lake. โTheir strong character on every solo and almost telepathic communication with each other is a highlight of the record to meโ said McCarthy. The rhythm section is rounded out by salward bassist Sam Minaie (Tigran Hamasyan, Melody Gardot) and McCarthyโs long-time associate Jongkuk (JK) Kim, who is appearing on new releases left and right. According to McCarthy, โthey are a uniquely groovy yet free-spirited rhythm section, always bringing the funk in tandem with adventure.โ The bandโs natural chemistry is readily apparent after just one listen.
Album highlights include โReady Steady Here You Goโ which feature incredibly high energy solos from Kuroda and Blake and an infectious go-go funk groove; โValedictorian Driver,โ which is a reimagining of rapper Nonameโs โDiddy Bopโ; and โThatโs All You Getโ, a whirlwind of off-axis uptempo swing (and indeed, the only swing tune you get).
The tongue in cheek album title comes from the idea that no matter what level of success one reaches as a musician, there will always be people saying a sustainable career in music is impossible. To McCarthy, thereโs always โstill time to quitโ music, but thereโs also time to fulfill oneโs creative and professional dreams and goals. With this shining debut for Ropeadope, McCarthyโs is beginning to achieve those goals.
- Lydia Liebman
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