Chris McCarthy - Priorities (2023)

This is an album about procrastination and growth. When everyone’s priorities were up ended in March 2020, I found myself uninspired to compose until March 2021. Without performing to keep me motivated, I fell into doing trivial work that did not align with my goals and tastes. With the world shut down, it wasn’t clear when I would ever record another album. My last project Still Time To Quit (Ropeadope) was released in April 2020, and the anti-climax that came with a string of canceled album release shows certainly contributed to my creative stagnation thereafter.

After a year of hardly playing with others, I returned to writing after a casual reading session with Steven Crammer and Chris Tordini. I tried to write repertoire that showcased the extremely open ended yet grounded approach they take to everything they play. Having played lots of music with too many chord changes, I preferred to create interesting counterpoint between the outer lines in the composition and let the improvisation grow from there. The clarity and drive that they deliver in every note make my songs come to life.

Thank you to Jordi Pujol and Fresh Sound Records for believing in this project. I was inspired to work with the label after recording Eden Bareket’s beautiful record 'Day Dream' in 2021. To have a label across the ocean actively supporting and pushing my peers and me to record our music is not to be taken for granted. Thank you to Sam Minaie for doing an amazing mix and master of the project, and to Taiji Kuroda for the beautiful album artwork. Thank you to my family and my love, Kayla Williams, for always pushing me to be better.

I hope this music inspires you to keep making whatever you’re making. There’s always still time to reassess your priorities.

—Chris McCarthy