"The Better Angels of Our Nature is both timeless (as is all great music) and could not be more timely. Brian McCarthy has assembled an ensemble of brilliant players and given them music of deep roots and resonant meaning, a program rich in our history with lessons for the present moment that we should all take to heart."
— Bob Blumenthal, author and journalist
4 1/2 Stars, "...cavernous impression for its arresting beauty and conceptual brilliance."
— Brian Zimmerman, DownBeat (September 2017, p78)
“A fascinating big band work by a talented young arranger/composer...”
–Ralph Miriello, Huffington Post
4 Stars, “A valuable collection on multiple levels.”
— Karl Ackermann, All About Jazz
"...continually surprising and quite brilliant..."
— Jeff Simon, Buffalo News
5.1.2018 DownBeat Magazine, "Finding The Better Angels of Our Nature"
12.6.2017 Huffington Post - "Best of 2017"
12.1.2017 DownBeat Magazine - "Best of 2017"
9.1.2017 DownBeat Magazine - 4 1/2 Star Review
8.17.2017 Time Argus Review
8.17.2017 Time Argus Feature
8.16.2017 Seven Days Feature
7.24.2017 Green Mountain Jazz, All About Jazz Review
7.20.2017 All About Jazz Review
7.6.2017 Vermont Public Radio, Listening Party w/ Reuben Jackson
7.1.2017 Step Tempest, Blog Review
6.22.2017 The Buffalo News, Review
6.15.2017 Republic of Jazz, Blog Review
6.7.2017 Impediments of War, Radio Interview
6.2.2017 Black Grooves, Blog Review
3.8.2016 NCPR Interview - The Bridge with Joel Hurd
3.12.2016 Saxophone Times - Interview
11.5.2015 Burlington Free Press, Feature
11.6.2016 Vermont Public Radio, Live Performance
11.3.2015 Vermont Arts Council, Blog Preview