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About Christian McBride

Radio & Podcasts

Modern Big Bands: Christian McBride, Marshal Gilkes, Gerald Wilson, Brian Lynch and More

by Russell Perry
September 29, 2020

Since the early days of jazz, composers, arrangers, and players have sought out large ensembles for their potential for rich expression and vibrant musical color. Even in the heyday of small-group dominated bebop, Dizzy Gillespie formed a big band as soon as he could. To this day, while few bands can hold together as touring units, some find regular work in public radio, especially in Europe, some hold weekly residencies in a few major cities and, more frequently, a number ...

Album Review

Benny Benack III: A Lot of Livin' to Do

Read "A Lot of Livin' to Do" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi

by Angelo Leonardi
September 25, 2020

Non ancora trentenne Benny Benack III conferma il talento espresso nell'esordio di tre anni fa One of a Kind, con un album frizzante e coinvolgente, dove ritroviamo la baldanza del trombettista neo bop e l'esuberanza del vocalist in equilibrio tra crooner e vocalese. Il rischio d'essere scambiato come un epigono di Harry Connick Jr. e Michael Bublé è concreto ma Benny ha molte frecce al suo arco: ottima educazione musicale (doppia laurea alla Manhattan School of Music), ...

Album Review

Joshua Redman: RoundAgain

Read "RoundAgain" reviewed by Robert Middleton

by Robert Middleton
August 2, 2020

A return to the quartet from saxophonist Joshua Redman's Moodswing (Warner Bros., 1994). Yes, 26 years has passed. A great album a generation ago. RoundAgain is a reunion of masters: Redman with pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Brian Blade. Each at the very top of their games and their respective domains. Sax, piano, bass, and drums. Holy shit, could you assemble a band better than this one? Modern masters, now in their middle years (50's) are ...

Album Review

Christian McBride: The Movement Revisited

Read "The Movement Revisited" reviewed by Chris May

by Chris May
March 21, 2020

The spring 2020 release of The Movement Revisited: A Musical Portrait Of Four Icons is the latest chapter in Christian McBride's inspirational salute to the African American civil rights movement and to four of its heroes: Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali. Embracing big band jazz, small group jazz, gospel, funk and chorale musics, together with spoken word passages, the suite employs an eighteen-piece band, the ten-piece Voices Of The Flame gospel choir, two lead ...

Radio & Podcasts

Christian McBride, Matana Roberts, Chicago Underground Quartet and More

by Maurice Hogue
February 26, 2020

Each of February's shows will have some music recognizing Black History Month. The selected recording for 2020 is The Movement Revisited--A Musical Portrait of Four Icons, Christian McBride's epic, and you'll hear tunes from the album each week. This show also features Matana Roberts and Coin Coin Chapter IV -Memphis. The Chicago Underground Quartet is back in business with a new studio release, and two of England's, and the free jazz world's, iconic players have a new release as well. ...

Album Review

Benny Benack III: A Lot Of Livin' To Do

Read "A Lot Of Livin' To Do" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
January 11, 2020

Benny Benack III does it all. A trumpeter, vocalist, writer and arranger with a swaggering soul and the chops to back up the panache, he's clearly done his fair share of living already. He may be young—only at the tail end of his twenties, believe it or not—but he seriously has his act together in every way, shape and form, as this album proves. Fronting a tight quartet with Takeshi Ohbayashi on piano, Christian McBride on bass ...

Album Review

Christian McBride: Christian McBride's New Jawn

Read "Christian McBride's New Jawn" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic

by Mike Jurkovic
November 21, 2018

It's true that six-time Grammy winner Christian McBride hasn't been the new thing on the scene for some time now. Yet the gritty Christian McBride's New Jawn pops from the get-go with a zesty, youthful intensity and infectious enthusiasm. making his lifelong inquiry into jazz past, present and future a pure joy to listen to. On his first release for his Brother Mister Productions, a new imprint from his longtime label Mack Avenue Records, McBride turns away from ...