International  Vocal Performer & Recording Artist

Here is more evidence that Detroit is one of America's great jazz cities - and it's not just a historical fact - it's 

living proof in vocalist Robert McCarther. McCarther's band including Kamau Kenyatta, Vincent Bowens, 

Curtis Taylor, Dwight Adams, Alex Rogowski, Marion Hayden and Thaddeus Dixon are more confirmation of 

Detroit's living and lively jazz power. McCarther has integrated painful and joyous life lessons into his music, 

his voice and most of all, his phrasing. If you are looking for a singer to take the place of Leon Thomas or Bill 

Henderson for your programming, look to Detroit's Robert McCarther. And, if you're looking for a CD with 

well-balanced and well-played acoustic arrangements, "Stranger In Town" is for you, your station and your 

listeners.

-Linda Yohn, WEMU 89.1

Robert McCarther brings a fresh perspective to the jazz scene with velvet, smooth, baritone vocals and his 

astute ability to ‘Swing’. Accompanied by some of the best Motown jazz musicians, his second solo CD tackles 

compositions by Thelonius Monk to Bill Withers and Paul Williams. When I listen to the musical 

interpretations of Robert McCarther, I feel great joy. Here is a vocalist who consistently makes you pay 

attention to the lyrics. For example, on “Hi Fly,“ tastefully recorded in three-quarter waltz time, I was very 

familiar with this song’s melody, yet somehow I felt I was hearing the words for the very first time. The title 

tune, “Stranger In Town” sets the tone for McCarther’s entire recording. It features the sensational trumpet 

work of Curtis Taylor with complimentary horn arrangements by Kamau Kenyatta. This song exudes energy, 

while setting the tone for an album of straight-ahead jazz. Kamau Kenyatta also produced these sessions and 

is probably best known for his work with Gregory Porter’s Grammy Award winning albums. He’s also pianist 

on these sessions.

McCarther is no newcomer to jazz. His dad, Louie Barnett, played saxophone with the Maurice King big band. 

As a young man, Robert often went on ‘the road’ and sang with that historic band. McCarther was also a 

strong contributor to the “Broadnax Voices”, a Detroit jazz choral group that was put together by 

composer/arranger and Motown writer, Morris Broadnax. The group was born upon McCarther’s 

insistence. Robert explained, “I was over Aretha’s (Franklin) house one day and Nax (Morris Broadnax

nickname) came by and (as usual) I started singing his tunes. I suggested he start a vocal group that just sang 

his many, jazzy compositions. Eventually, he did it. We were very popular, working in and around Detroit for 

several years.”

During McCarther’s six year tenure with “The Broadnax Voices,” McCarther sang harmonics in the 

background, as well as front-lining for the group as a solo artist. In fact, he and Broadnax have collaborated on 

one of these album songs as co-writers titled, “Ya’ll”, a swinging little tune about self-realization. Broadnax 

also contributed two more tunes to this recording project, including the title tune, co-written with myself and 

his self-penned, “Lately.” You will find Robert McCarther’s choice of repertoire both unique and 

introspective. He seems to be drawn to songs that not only have a strong melodic line, but also offer the 

listener prose that tickle our minds and stories of life that mirror our own. Here is a jazz vocalist who puts love 

and sincerity into every word he sings, while keeping the time like a master percussionist and inspiring us with 

his straight-ahead, musical truth.

-Dee Dee McNeil/Jazz Journalist