Christian McBride: jazz notes from the engine room
The universally acclaimed bassist, bandleader, artistic director, and prodigious collaborator joins the podcast to discuss his many ongoing projects, the evolution of jazz education, and how bass players are like baseball catchers.
Today, the Spotlight shines On Christian McBride, a musician, recording artist, prolific composer, arranger, producer, cultural curator, dedicated educator, and mentor.
Christian has been called the hardest-working person in jazz, and based on what I just rattled off, that might be underselling it. From his early days in Philadelphia soaking up the sounds of Philly Soul to sharing stages with legends like Ray Brown and Chick Corea, Christian has become a bridge between jazz’s rich history and its vibrant future.
These days, you’ll find him leading his new band, Ursa Major, hosting NPR’s Jazz Night in America, mentoring the next generation of musicians, and somehow finding time to work on a new big band album featuring twelve different vocalists. He’s also preparing for an upcoming funk tribute show with none other than George Clinton and Savion Glover at NJPAC.
Whether laying down the groove with Inside Straight, his Big Band, or any other celebrated ensemble, Christian brings an irresistible combination of soul, swing, and storytelling to everything he touches. Today, we’ll explore his journey from Philly to the world stage, his passion for record collecting, and why he believes being uncomfortable might be the best way to grow as a musician.
Quick note: this conversation occurred when our baseball teams were still in contention. One had a better outcome than the other, and neither made it all the way…
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Dig Deeper
• Visit Christian McBride at christianmcbride.com
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• NPR’s Jazz Night in America
• Tribute to Funk! - NJPAC
• Christian McBride On Ray Brown’s Bass And James Brown’s Appeal
• Christian McBride, Revered in Jazz, Is Playing the Long Game
• The curious mind—and hard work—of bassist Christian McBride
• Christian McBride and Sting - “Consider Me Gone”
• History of CBS Records 30th Street Studio NYC
• Kris Davis: defining jazz’s vanguard - Spotlight On Podcast
• Jazz House Kids | School For Jazz - Montclair, NJ
• Ron Carter, jazz’s most prolific bassist
• Nikki Giovanni
• Javon Jackson gives Peter Bradley’s art a swinging soundtrack - Spotlight On Podcast
• Jane Ira Bloom & Mark Helias - Spotlight On Podcast
• Frank Sinatra on Top of the Heap: Revisiting ‘Sinatra at the Sands’
• Questlove and Christian Mcbride - Norah Jones is Playing Along Podcast
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Christian McBride
GRAMMY Winning Bassist
McBride is renowned as both a globally esteemed artist and one of the most respected and influential advocates and educators in jazz. He’s been awarded eight GRAMMY® Awards, garnered acclaim for his poignant ode to the Civil Rights era, The Movement Revisited, and performed at the White House. He leads several acclaimed and diverse ensembles, including the Christian McBride Big Band, the scintillating quintet Inside Straight, and the adventurous New Jawn.
McBride’s most recent album Prime exemplifies jazz greats at the zenith of their powers who insist on scaling greater heights, and received praise from The New York Times, NPR’s World Cafe, Forbes, Jazziz, and many more. In 2023 Christian also performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert Series, released the track “Why Am I Treated So Bad” with Norah Jones and Questlove, and performed on Saturday Night Live with Billie Eilish. McBride also received acclaim at the 2024 GRAMMY Awards for producing Nicole Zuraitis’ album How Love Begins, which won in the Best Jazz Vocal Album category.
Beyond his own work he’s a tireless champion for jazz’s continued relevance through his work as Artistic Director of the Newport Jazz Festival, host of the NPR radio program Jazz Night in America, Artistic Director of the music education organizations Jazz House Kids and Jazz Aspen, Artistic Advisor for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and its TD James Moody Jazz Festival, and Associate Artistic Director for the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.
He is a living example of the torch-passing tradition of jazz, having worked … Read More
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