Whispers The Heart by Chris McNulty

.McNulty’s intonation and articulation are commanding - and provide a preview for the level of musical excellence and creative artistry with which she leads throughout the album. McNulty scats and she is marvelous. Whether she is singing the lyrics or improvising, McNulty demonstrates a commanding sense of rhythm that is evident in the way she bend the rhythms, syncopating phrases in unexpected ways…”

Clive Griffin, Jazz Improv Magazine, October 2006

Whispers the Heart voted by Nancy Barell as one of the Top 10 releases of 2006 on Jazz Journalist Associations Critics Choice list.

McNulty first visited New York City in 1985 and settled there in 1988 after being awarded an International Study Grant from the Australia Council. Since then Chris has garnered further accolades from critics, jazz musicians and fans alike. She has collaborated and performed with some of the finest musicians on the jazz scene today including: Gary Bartz, Paul Bollenback, Gary Thomas, Mulgrew Miller, Peter Leitch, , Ugonna Okegwo, John Hicks, Frank Wess, Ingrid Jensen, Terri-Lyne Carrington, Tim Garland, Tom Lellis, Billy Hart, Ed Howard, Jeff Ballard, Dave Pietro, Joe Locke, Tineke Postma, James Genus, , Matt Wilson, Jeff “Tain” Watts, David “Fathead” Newman, George Mraz, Kenny Washington, Steve Wilson, Joel Frahm, Gary Versace, David Budway, Harvey S and Tony Reedus. Chris’s debut recording in the States, Waltz For Debby (Discovery 1990), received outstanding reviews in several publications and features the official published lyric by Chris of the great Miles Davis classic, “Blue in Green.” In 1994 Chris was also honored to be selected as one of the six exceptional new jazz singers on the New York scene to be featured on the Venus recording, “Big Apple Voices”. Chris has gone on to record several CD’s since then, A Time for Love (Amosaya 1996), I Remember You (Mop Top 2004 – re-released on Elefant Dreams 2006), Dance Delicioso (Elefant Dreams 2005) and her most recently released Whispers the Heart (2006), during this time crossing over from lyricist to full fledged composer. In between raising her only son Sam, Chris managed to maintain a fairly active profile and presence on the international scene. In 2001 Chris & her quintet were invited to appear at BAM’s presentation of the first Australian Arts Festival held at the Brooklyn Academy of Arts. In 2002 Chris traveled to Russia with Paul Bollenback and returned again in 2003 and 2004 for the very first St Petersburg Jazz Festival. Their magnetic and captivating performances have led to ever increasing festival dates around the world. Following the release of her highly acclaimed Dance Delicioso, Chris returned from successful festival appearances in both the UK and Ireland including the Brecon Festival in Wales and the Killarney Festival in Ireland. Along with national radio features throughout the States, UK, Ireland and Europe, her music has also been a major feature in Australia on ABC’s nationally broadcast program, “The Nightly Planet.” In recent times, both Dance Delicioso and Whispers the Heart have received major attention in the press and radio world wide - both appeared on the pre-nomination ballot for a Grammy nomination the last 2 years respectively. On Paul Bollenback’s 6th release Brightness of Being, released March 2006, Chris’ vocalese work is featured amongst a stellar cast of jazz luminaries including David “Fathead” Newman, Tim Garland, Gary Thomas, Terri-Lyne Carrington, James Genus and Ari Honig. McNulty’s 6th release in the States, Whispers the Heart, features several new outstanding original works and arrangements including a string quartet by Chris, along with featured guests including jazz great Frank Wess, Ingrid Jensen, Paul Bollenback (who shares executive and co-producing credits), Ed Howard, Dave Pietro, Tineke Postma, Gary Versace, Matt Wilson, Rogerio Boccato and Montez Coleman. Whispers the Heart was recently included in the Jazz Journalists Association Critics list of Top Ten picks of 2006 by JJA critic, Nancy Barell. The recording also remained in the Top 10 on major global Internet radio www.radioio.com during October and November 2006.

Increasingly acknowledged by musicians, peers and critics alike as a jazz vocalist-composer with a unique vision, boundless creative energy and strong individual style. McNulty's risk-taking, fluid and powerful emotional approach, support, but never compromise her musical sensibilities. By simultaneously reinforcing and re-defining the boundaries for jazz singing as vocalist-composer, McNulty breaks new ground, on these last two recordings in particular. In short, she is a consummate musician with great pitch and control who can touch an emotional core with an audience in a way very few of her contemporaries can. As so aptly put by George W. Carrol from The Musician’s Ombudsman, “McNulty is capable of injecting emotion, pathos, irony & meaning into her work ..a gift that few singers can lay claim to.”

Her compositions have been hailed as rich harmonically, melodically and lyrically and well worthy of the company they keep along side the great standards she continues to interpret and explore.

Chris McNulty has lived in NYC since 1988. She maintains an active touring schedule. Her 2006-2007 touring schedule includes several U.S tours, festival dates in Australia and tours to the UK, Ireland, Europe and Russia.

Interviews & clinics:

A thoroughly engaging and thought provoking interview with Chris appears in Jazz Improv Magazine's December 2006 Issue, available shortly in print and on-line. Her Guest Clinician article will be appearing in Jazz Ed Magazine; print and on-line this coming January 2007.

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