“In order to go deep, it’s got to be specific. You fill the lyric with your life!” – Kate McGarry

Kate McGarry (@katemcgarry2). shares about what she’s learned from studying the Somatic Voicework™ The LoVetri Method for over 17 years. We chat about pandemic challenges, her first jazz influences, and the differences between performing live versus in the studio. Kate divulges some of her unique practice techniques, such as singing through a straw in water. She shares about her vocal cord healing journey, including what she’s learned about overcoming failure and self-care. Lastly, we chat about Kate’s song writing process, future albums and from where she draws inspiration.

With six critically acclaimed CDs and two Grammy nominations, Kate McGarry has become recognized as a jazz artist who brings authenticity and vitality to every song regardless of genre. She’s performed, recorded or toured with such jazz luminaries as Hank Jones, Clark Terry, Archie Shepp, Fred Hersch, Kurt Elling, Maria Schneider, John Hollenbeck and Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown. 

In this episode we touch on the following topics:

• Pivoting during Covid-19
• Somatic Voicework™
• Vocal Jazz vs Jazz
• Why people get bored with Jazz
• What a practice session looks like
• Her recovery from a vocal injury
• Her songwriting process

Links from the episode:

• Jazz Camp West
• Somatic Voicework™ – The LoVetri Method
• Night and Day
• Genevieve and Ferdinand
• Sunnyside Records
• What to Wear in the Dark
• The Subject Tonight is Love
• Teanek, New Jersey
• The Jazz Standard
• Resilience Music Alliance
• So (Classic Albums) – On Amazon Prime
• Kind of Blue – Miles Davis
• Songs You Like a Lot – John Hollenbeck
• Leaves of Grass – Fred Hersch
• Rocky
• Duke Voice Care Center
• Durham, North Carolina
• Down To The River To Pray 
• Losing Strategy #4
• Data Lords by Maria Schneider
• Vallejo Jazz Society
• In My Head – GIan Slater
• Let’s Face The Music and Dance
• Whatever Lola Wants
• We Kiss In The Shadow

Show Notes:

• (29:55)
• Somatic Voicework (39:16)
• The narrative of a song (45:26)
• Live perfomance vs in the studio (58:55)
• The gift of being prepared (55:59)
• What happens in a practice session (65:15)
• Recovering from vocal trauma (67:17)
• Inspirations (75:07)
• Essential Practice Room Tools (76:44)

People Mentioned:

• Kieth Ganz
• Charlie Hunter
• Jeanette LoVetri
• Lucianna Souza
• Theo Bleckmann
• Bill Evans
• Kieth Jarrett
• Cole Porter
• Gary Vercase
• Obed Calvaire
• Ron Miles
• Peter Gabriel
• Manu Katché
• Miles Davis
• John Hollenbeck
• Fred Hersch
• Leada Scearce
• Maria Schneider
• Becca Stevens
• Gian Slater
• Seth Godin