Christian McBride

With his bold, swinging style and robust sound, Philadelphia native Christian McBride is one of the foremost jazz bassists of his generation. Initially gaining prominence as a Young Lion in the early 1990s, McBride was championed by elders includng Benny Carter and his longtime idol and mentor Ray Brown. He attracted attention playing alongside similarly inclined contemporaries such as trumpeter Roy Hargrove, pianist Benny Green, and saxophonist Joshua Redman.
His early albums, 1994's Gettin' to It and 1995's Number Two Express, displayed his hard-swinging, acoustic post-bop sound. However, he quickly proved his versatility and broad stylistic influences with 1998's Family Affair and 2000's Sci-Fi, embracing electric fusion, funk, and soul influences. Still, jazz remained his focus, with his trio and Inside Straight quintet, both of which he debuted in 2013 on Out Here and People Music, respectively.
He has earned more than five Grammy Awards, including two with his big band -- 2017's Bringin' It and 2020's For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver -- and for his work in the Trilogy trio with Chick Corea and Brian Blade. As a leader, he moves easily between small group dates like 2018's Christian McBride's New Jawn to more ambitious large-ensemble projects like 2020's The Movement Revisited: A Musical Portrait of Four Icons. He also reunited with Redman, collaborating with his fellow '90s quartet bandmates Brad Mehldau and Brian Blade on 2020's RoundAgain and 2022's LongGone; both were Grammy nominated. He was back with New Jawn exploring a blend of post-bop and free jazz on 2023's Prime, before pairing with fellow bassist Edgar Meyer for 2024's But Who's Gonna Play the Melody?. In addition to performing, McBride is a well-known radio personality, having hosted The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian on satellite radio and Jazz Night in America on National Public Radio. His expertise has also been tapped for advisory positions, including Artistic Advisor for Jazz Programming at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), Artistic Director for Newport Jazz Festival, and Associate Artistic Director at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.