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Verified Global Musician

Christian McBride

Christian McBride is a bassist, composer, arranger, and bandleader whose projects range from small groups to big-band and orchestral writing.

Double bassElectric bassComposerBandleader5 current shows

Photo source · Photo: Dale Cruse, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Career Overview

About Christian McBride

McBride's official biography traces his musical foundation to Philadelphia, his move to New York in 1989, and early work with Bobby Watson, Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson, and Roy Hargrove. It also documents his parallel work as a composer, arranger, producer, educator, broadcaster, and arts-program director.[1]

His artist site presents a deliberately varied leader catalog: Inside Straight, the Christian McBride Big Band, New Jawn, Ursa Major, the Christian McBride Trio, and A Christian McBride Situation. Each project gives the bassist a different setting for acoustic ensemble playing, large-ensemble arranging, or groove-centered experimentation.[1][2]

Ensembles and Career Threads

Bands & Projects

Leader, bassist, and composer

Christian McBride & Inside Straight

McBride's official project guide identifies Inside Straight as one of his recurring acoustic groups, while the Mack Avenue catalog documents releases including Kind of Brown, People Music, and Live at the Village Vanguard.[2][3]

Leader and bassist

Christian McBride's New Jawn

New Jawn places McBride with trumpet, reeds, and drums rather than a chordal instrument. Mack Avenue identifies Prime as the quartet's second album and credits original compositions to every member.[2][6]

Leader, composer, and arranger

Christian McBride Big Band

The big band is the large-ensemble branch of McBride's catalog. Its first leader recording was The Good Feeling, and the project also provides the setting for The Movement Revisited and later vocal collaborations.[2][4][5]

Selected, Not Exhaustive

Recordings to Know

2011 · Mack Avenue Records

The Good Feeling

Christian McBride Big Band leader

McBride's first big-band recording as a leader established the large-ensemble side of his catalog.[4]

Release details

2020 · Mack Avenue Records

The Movement Revisited: A Musical Portrait of Four Icons

Composer, arranger, conductor, lyricist, and bassist

The recording documents McBride's five-part suite for big band, chorus, and narrators about figures and goals of the Civil Rights Movement.[5]

Release details

2023

Prime

Christian McBride's New Jawn leader and bassist

New Jawn's second album combines compositions by each quartet member with music associated with Sonny Rollins, Ornette Coleman, and Larry Young.[6]

Release details

Artist-Authorized Destinations

Start Listening

Official Bandcamp

Hear artist-authorized Christian McBride releases and purchase digital or physical editions.

Official YouTube channel

Watch performances, interviews, project videos, and other uploads from McBride's official channel.

Official discography

Browse McBride's leader projects, collaborations, and linked listening destinations on his artist site.

Live Calendar

Upcoming Jazz DateBook Shows

Wed, Sep 2, 7:00 PM

Samara Joy, Christian McBride at Summerstage In Central Park

Summerstage In Central Park · New York

Show details

Thu, Sep 10, 7:30 PM

Christian McBride

SFJAZZ Center · San Francisco

Show details

Fri, Sep 11, 7:30 PM

Christian McBride

SFJAZZ Center · San Francisco

Show details

Sat, Sep 12, 7:30 PM

Christian McBride's Ursa Major

SFJAZZ Center · San Francisco

Show details

Sun, Sep 13, 7:00 PM

Christian McBride's Ursa Major

SFJAZZ Center · San Francisco

Show details

Sources

Career copy is original synthesis from the artist, label, and project sources below. Current dates come from Jazz DateBook event inventory.

  1. [1] Official biography

    Christian McBride

  2. [2] Official bands and special projects

    Christian McBride

  3. [3] Label artist and release catalog

    Mack Avenue Music Group

  4. [4] The Good Feeling release page

    Mack Avenue Music Group

  5. [5] The Movement Revisited release page

    Mack Avenue Music Group

  6. [6] Prime release page

    Mack Avenue Music Group