Nora McCarthy

A prominent member of the New York jazz scene, vocalist, composer, lyricist, poet and actor, Nora McCarthy has enjoyed a very productive and significant musical career since 1996 when she recorded her first of thus far nine CD’s, red&blue. Her eighth CD, blesSINGS won the 38th Annual Jazz Station Awards in two categories: Best Jazz Singer and Best Jazz Vocal CD.

McCarthy, a devotee of classic jazz, global rhythms and the fine arts, is a musical, colorist, and interpreter of the lyric; a beautiful balladeer in the tradition of the great Jimmy Scott, who like McCarthy, came from Cleveland, Ohio. Her burnished alto voice is steeped in tradition and rich with a distinctive style that cuts a broad swath from classic jazz, soul, blues bebop, post-bop, and beyond. An impressive improviser, her sound is reminiscent of the great voices and horns in jazz.

McCarthy currently leads and co-leads several jazz groups from a duo to a twenty piece orchestra; she and her groups perform in New York City, the Tri-State area and elsewhere in the world.

• McCarthy' has written over 30 compositions and graphic compositions, soundscapes and poetic architectures that she has been designing since 2001 for her advanced music groups and has penned lyrics to dozens of jazz standards, other compositions as well as her own original music.

• Early 2019 McCarthy made her off off Broadway acting debut in the play Moral Support, a drama written by Bill Considine, directed by Félix E. Gardón at Medicine Show Theatre, NYC.

• Nora is a regular guest artist in pianist David Haney’s and legendary drummer Bernard Purdie’s ongoing production Jazz Stories at The Public Theater/Joe’s Pub February 2017

• Nora graced the highly coveted cover of the 2016 February/March issue of Jazz Inside Magazine as the featured artist.

• Nora worked closely with the late Conductor, Lawrence D. "Butch" Morris’ as a member of the renowned Chorus of Poets from 2005-2010.

• Nora presents a jazz radio show for Cadence Jazz World (http://www.cadencejazzworld.com) called, “Nora’s Jazz Show” featuring jazz and avant-jazz, world jazz by established and emerging artists from around the world.

• Through her vast experience in jazz, free improvised music and poetry, Nora developed a comprehensive 13-pronged approach to teaching voice and improvisation and currently teaches privately, conducts workshops, and master classes.