Bassist extraodinaire, composer, arranger, educator, curator and administrator, Christian McBride, has been one of the most important and most omnipresent figures in the jazz world for 20 years. Sometimes hard to believe considering this man is not yet 40.

Beginning in 1989, this Philadelphia-born bassist moved to New York City to further his classical studies at the Juilliard School, only to be snatched up by alto saxophonist, Bobby Watson. Since then, McBride's list of accomplishments have been nothing short of staggering. As a sideman in the jazz world alone, he's worked with the best of the very best - Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Rollins, J.J. Johnson, Ray Brown, Milt Jackson, McCoy Tyner, Roy Haynes, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and Pat Metheny. In the R&B world, he's not only played with, but also arranged for Isaac Hayes, Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole, Lalah Hathaway, and the one and only Godfather of Soul himself, James Brown. In the pop/rock world, he's extensively collaborated with Sting, Carly Simon, Don Henley, and Bruce Hornsby. In the hip-hop/neo-soul world, he's collaborated with the Roots, D'Angelo, and Queen Latifah. In many other specialty projects, he's worked closely with opera legend Kathleen Battle, bass virtuoso Edgar Meyer, the Shanghai Quartet and the Sonus Quartet.

Away from the bass, Christian has become quite an astute and respected spokesperson for the music. In 1997, he spoke on former President Bill Clinton's town hall meeting "Racism in the Performing Arts". In 2000, he was named Artistic Director of the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Summer Sessions. In 2005, he was officially named the co-director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. Also in 2005, he was named the second Creative Chair for Jazz of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association.

In 1998, McBride composed, The Movement, Revisited, a four-movement suite dedicated to four of the major figures of the civil rights movement - Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The piece was commissioned by the Portland (ME) Arts Society and the National Endowment for the Arts. The piece was performed throughout the New England states in the fall of 1998 with McBride's quartet and a 30-piece gospel choir led by J.D. Steele. Ten years later in 2008, The Movement, Revisited was expanded, re-written, re-vamped and performed again in Los Angeles at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The updated version now featured the gospel choir, an 18-piece big-band and four actors/speakers. The Los Angeles Times claimed the "Movement" as, "a work that was admirable -- to paraphrase Dr. King -- for both the content of its music and the character of its messag

Since 2000, McBride has blazed a trail as a bandleader with the Christian McBride Band. McBride's fellow bandmates - saxophonist Ron Blake, keyboardist Geoffrey Keezer and drummer Terreon Gully - have sympathetically shared McBride's all-inclusive, forward-thinking outlook on music. Releasing two CD's - 2002's Vertical Vision and 2006's Live at Tonic, writer Alan Leeds called McBride's band (affectionately known as the "CMB") "one of the most intoxicating, least predictable bands on the scene today." It is a group that has mesmerizingly walked an electro-acoustic fault line with amazing results. 2009 looks to be a big year for McBride. For starters, he will release two CD's for a new label, the Detroit-based Mack Avenue Records. First, he will return to his undiluted "straight-ahead" roots with the unveiling of his new quintet, Inside Straight featuring alto/soprano saxophonist, Steve Wilson; vibraphonist, Warren Wolf; pianist, Eric Reed and drummer, Carl Allen. There will also be a recording of duets with McBride and some of his best friends and mentors - George Duke, Angelique Kidjo, Dr. Billy Taylor, Hank Jones, Chick Corea, Eddie Palmieri, Regina Carter, Ron Blake, Roy Hargrove and Russell Malone among many others. To top it off, McBride will hit the airwaves with a brand new radio show, The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian, on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio channel 70.

announcements

4 hours ago

CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE & INSIDE STRAIGHT'S "KIND OF BROWN" NOW AVAILABLE ON VINYL! GET YOUR COPY NOW!

Two LP set, 33 1/3 rpm, 210 gram vinyl for the boomingest bass with gatefold packaging. Featuring liner notes by famed producer Orrin Keepnews. Each LP set comes with free digital download of full album and cover art. Kind Of Brown is the Mack Avenue debut for dynamic bassist, composer & bandleader, Christian McBride. Get your copy now!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Brown-Ch ristian-McBride-Inside-Straigh t/dp/B002N1AEEG

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July 09

QUINCY JONES JOINS CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE FOR" THE LOWDOWN"; DAVIDOFF COMMERCIAL RELEASED

CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE HAS BEEN TAPPED TO INTERVIEW LEGENDARY MUSIC IMPRESARIO QUINCY JONES AT THE 2010 NORTHSEA JAZZ FESTIVAL THIS SUNDAY IN ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS. JONES, WINNER OF THE 2010 PAUL ACKETT AWARD WILL JOIN MCBRIDE ONSTAGE AS THE TWO WILL CONVERSE ABOUT "Q"'s CELEBRATED CAREER AS AN ARRANGER, COMPOSER AND PRODUCER.

THE INTERVIEW WILL BE RECORDED BY SIRIUS/XM FOR A SPECIAL EPISODE OF "THE LOWDOWN: CONVERSATIONS WITH CHRISTIAN" STAY TUNED FOR AIRDATES.

In other McBride news:

DAVIDOFF CIGARS HAS OFFICIALY RELEASED IT'S NEW PURO d'ORO COMMERCIAL AD FEATURING CHRISTIAN. SEE IT HERE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNb6K21-tok

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June 23

CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE HEADS AN ALL-STAR SHOW IN ASPEN SATURDAY; CHICK COREA FREEDOM BAND IN EUROPE

Christian McBride heads up an all-star affair in Aspen, CO this Saturday night. Jazz Aspen Snowmass celebrates its 20th anniversary with Christian conducting, arranging & performing with a 17-piece big band with special guests: Patti Austin, Dianne Reeves, Terence Blanchard, Russell Malone, John Clayton, Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley. Ticket info below:

http://www.jazzaspen.org/p-june-festival-17.html

Chick Corea's new Freedom Band has completed the first part of their summer tour. Next, they head to Europe for a four-week run beginning in Istanbul on July 7th. To get the inside scoop on the Freedom Band, dig the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VByyf7O866I

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May 26

ESPERANZA SPALDING & CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE: INTIMATE JAZZ CONVERSATION & PERFORMANCE. ONE NIGHT ONLY!

Jazz House Kids proudly presents Inside the Jazz Note, a rare one-on-one conversation with the 25-year-old red-hot bassist & vocalist, Esperanza Spalding and the evening's host, Christian McBride.

Join us for this "behind-the-scenes" look from two of today's most sought-after artists. Through their words and their music, they'll share what it means to be a jazz artist crossing musical genres. This memorable evening will include the debut duet performance of these two international stars.

Thursday, June 3, 2010 8:00 p.m.

South Orange Performing Art Center South Orange, NJ

Special offer to fans of Spalding & McBride

2 tickets for the price of 1

2 Tickets for $100 VIP Package (includes premium seating and post-performance artist cocktail reception)

2 Tickets for $55

2 Tickets $35

Ticket Purchase Code: fan jazz 50 Call SOPAC to purchase tickets under special offer. SOPAC (973) 313-2787

All proceeds benefit Jazz House Kids, an arts enrichment organization that provides inspiring, professional jazz music instruction and education to children from all backgrounds, raising the motivation and academic performance to build a strong community and a robust future for America's home music. Inside the Jazz Note follows an afternoon Jazz for Generations Music Masterclass for high school band and choral students.

For more information visit http://www.jazzhousekids.org/ or http://www.sopacnow.org/

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May 24

CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE & INSIDE STRAIGHT ARE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD THIS WEEK

Come see Christian McBride & Inside Straight this week at their original birthplace - New York's legendary Village Vanguard. Joining Christian will be his usual comrades: Steve Wilson (saxophones), Warren Wolf (vibes), Carl Allen (drums) and playing with the band this week, Gerald Clayton (piano)

Doors open at 8:00pm. Sets begin at 9:00pm and 11:00pm nightly. From time to time, there is an additional 12:30am set on Saturday. It's best to call the club for confirmation of a third set. Tuesday through Sunday: $35.00 per set. Price includes $25.00 admission plus a $10.00 drink minimum.

For more info, click here:

http://www.villagevanguard.com

In other McBride news:

Today, Christian guest hosts Marian McPartland's PIANO JAZZ on NPR. McBride interviews young piano sensation, Christian Sands. Check your local NPR listings for times.

http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=24

On Thursday, De La Concha and Davidoff presents: An Evening with Christian McBride, Hendrik Kelner and Wayne Nish featuring Puro d'Oro, the newest creation from Davidoff Cigars. (Catch Christian fast, as he'll have to get to the Village Vanguard by 9pm!)

http://www.clubmacanudo.com/

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