Eternal by Chris McNulty
“Exquisite....McNulty applies poignant jazz chops to the vocal, while accomplishing the impossible, the expression of her story through song....making listeners rethink the meaning of why we love jazz.”
— 5 Stars Blaine Fallis, All About Jazz, July 2015
FULL REVIEW: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/eternal-chris-mcnulty-palmetto- records-review-by-blaine-fallis.php
“Exquisitely delivered...with consummate feeling and jazz sensibility.McNulty’s uniquely emotive vocal interpretation...achieves a transcendent quality.”
— 4.5 Stars. John McBeath, The Australian Weekend Review, October 2015 FULL REVIEW: The Australian - Arts review
"A musical triumph"
–– George Kanzler, Hot House Magazine - June 2015
"With Eternal Chris McNulty presents one of the most personal recordings this reviewer has encountered in many years. Eternal presents twelve brilliant performances that feature McNulty’s rich, warm vocals with an enchanting chamber ensemble orchestrated and conducted by her fellow Australian, Steve Newcomb. “What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life” and “With Every Breath I Take”, which is especially deep and profound. “A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing” and “Nature Boy” also standout as remarkable performances on an already exceptional recording. Chris McNulty's ability to tap into deep places of personal grief recalls the talents of Mark Murphy and Billie Holiday. This reviewer hopes that this elegant, deeply personal recording is the one that gains McNulty much deserved wider recognition." –– Christopher Cooke, KIOS, May 2015
FULL REVIEW: http://kios.org/post/kios-jazz-cd-month-chris- mcnultyeternalpalmetto-records
"McNulty has put all she has learned over half a lifetime of jazz singing and songwriting into this exquisite chamber jazz CD. The Australian born, New York City-based singer and a veteran performer on the international jazz scene, has many gifts as a performer and a direct channel to the emotional core of a lyric. On this CD, McNulty bares her soul, and one doesn’t dare look away." — 4.5 Stars Allen Morrison, Downbeat, June 2015
FULL REVIEW: http://www.downbeat.com/digitaledition/2015/ DB1506/76-77.html - DownBeat
“A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing” (Strayhorn) is exquisite. "Where Is Love"...by accenting just the right words and notes she engages the listener in a thrilling vocal. “Nature Boy” (Ahbez) is unique to begin with. Yet here it’s sparkling. The warm total sound Chamber Ensemble adds such distinction to her marvellous program." — IN tune, June, 2015
"McNulty’s singing is so simply fine that it’s not easy to characterize. Almost like a storyteller, gently and languidly caressing the words for maximum emotional impact, for her and the listener. Eternal is a fitting title – these songs are standards, evergreens, they’ve stood the test of time. With singers the caliber of Chris McNulty, the art of jazz singing, the art of making a song belong to the singer, is (and will be) enduring as well."
–– Mark Keresman — Jazz Ed Magazine March 2015
"Such a beautifully crafted and heartfelt performance throughout. From the very first minute we hear McNulty’s eloquent, exquisite vocals, we know this is an album we are going to be listening to time and time again; to catch those rare moments of beauty a release such as this delivers."
— Mike Gates, UKVibe 2-12-15
FULLREVIEW: http://ukvibe.org/sans_frontier/chris-mcnulty/
"The best singers make us believe the songs they are singing."
— 4 Stars Cormac Larkin, Irish Times 3-26-15
FULL REVIEW: http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/chris-mcnulty-eternal- album-review-1.2154270
"The resultant blend is beautiful and seamless, as sensitivity reigns supreme." — 4.5 Stars Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz 3-4-15
FULL REVIEW: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/eternal-chris-mcnulty-palmetto- records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php
http://www.allaboutjazz.com
"...Here and on a stunning version of “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life”, the context brings a new richness to the well-known lyrics. The program is enhanced by a remarkable instrumental ensemble arranged and conducted by Steve Newcomb. This album is so much of a unified whole, it’s almost unfair to pick out favorite tracks or solos."
— Thomas Cunliffe, Jazz History 3-15-15
FULL REVIEW: http://www.jazzhistoryonline.com/In_Memoriam.html Jazz History
"This is a release of simple unadorned splendor, an organic outpouring of emotion and love. Highlights are virtually too numerous to list as standards such as "Star Dust" and "Nature Boy" are meticulously reinvented. McNulty does not merely sing the words, she makes the music as the band embraces this concept and plays with her, not around her. "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life" is nothing short of exquisite." Eternal is another one of those all too rare releases that literally reviews itself. Simplicity is indeed the ultimate in sophistication."
— Brent Black, Critical Jazz 2-15-15
FULLREVIEW: http://www.criticaljazz.com/2015/02/chris-mcnulty-eternal- palmetto-2015.html
"There’s a subdued grace to the music, even as it gives the impression of a sweeping majesty." — BirdistheWorm 3-26-15
FULL REVIEW: http://www.birdistheworm.com/this-is-jazz-today-ben-goldberg- petros-sakelliou-yves-rousseau-4tet-more/
"The sound is lush and poignant and McNulty’s voice soars around the songs…making the tunes her own, original improvisation, sometimes cutting across the musicians, sometimes with gentle scat-like vocals."
— Ann Alex, Bebopspokenhere 3-15-15
FULL REVIEW: http://lance-bebopspokenhere.blogspot.com/2015/03/cd-review-chris-mcnulty-eternal.html
"..a very beautiful album that shows the power of music in dealing with issues of the heart and beyond.." — Emma Clarendon, For the Love of Culture 2-1-15
FULL REVIEW: http://mysteriousculture.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/eternal-chris-mcnulty-album-review.html -
Tracklist
| 1. | The Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers | 4:39 |
| 2. | A Flower is a Lovesome Thing | 6:51 |
| 3. | What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life | 6:14 |
| 4. | Where Is Love | 5:17 |
| 5. | You Are There | 3:07 |
| 6. | Star Dust | 2:49 |
| 7. | Nature Boy | 5:42 |
| 8. | Yesterday I Heard the Rain | 3:49 |
| 9. | Love Came On Stealthy Fingers | 5:08 |
| 10. | On a Clear Day | 6:04 |
| 11. | With Every Breath You Take | 5:35 |
| 12. | Boulevard of Broken Dreams | 3:38 |
Credits
Chris McNulty with Chamber Ensemble Orchestrated and Conducted by Steve Newcomb with Trio: John Di Martino, Ugonna Okegwo, Gregory Hutchinson
Steve Newcomb - Orchestrations ALL tracks except #12. Arrangements tracks 4, 5, 6.
Chamber Ensemble: Violins: Mazz Swift, Josh Henderson, Amanda Lo Viola: Trevor New Cello: Meaghan Burke; Marika Hughes Woodwinds: Jodie Rottle (flute & alto flute), Ivan Barenboim (clarinet & bass clarinet), John Morgan-Bush (french horn), Ben Wendel (bassoon)
John Di Martino - Trio arrangements (tracks 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 )
Trio: John Di Martino (piano), Ugonna Okegwo (bass), Gregory Hutchinson (drums)
Soloists: Ben Wendel (track 2), Matthew Jodrell (track 3 & 9), Paul Bollenback (track 1 & 10), Ivan Barenboim (track 12)
Mixed and Mastered by Dave Darlington at Bass Hit Studios, NYC
Recorded at Water Sound, Hoboken, NJ January 20-21, 2013
Session engineer - Sean Kelly
Front and back cover art -Jillian Ciemitis & Linde Caughey - Drowning Tree
Inside over - Peter and Jillian Ciemitis - Waterdrops
Photography - John Abbott
Graphic Design - Angelyne Wolfe
Publicist - Braithwaite and Katz
Steinway supplied by Steinway & Sons, Astoria, Queens, NY
Produced by Chris McNulty & Steve Newcomb
License
All rights reserved.Tags
Chris McNulty is vocal jazz musician, composer and educator and the recipient of numerous awards including the 2013 Australian Bell Award for Best Vocal Jazz album for ‘The Song That Sings You Here'. Her groundbreaking release ‘Eternal’ placed 11th on the DownBeat Readers Poll 2015 for Album of the Year. She was also the recipient of a 2019 Bundanon Trust Prelude Composer Residency award.