Accessibility links
Christian McBride Christian McBride artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music

Christian McBride

The All-Female Big Bands That Made History During World War II

The International Sweethearts of Rhythm in the 1940s. Courtesy of Rosalind Cron hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of Rosalind Cron

Music Interviews

The All-Female Big Bands That Made History During World War II

NPR's Audie Cornish talks with Christian McBride of Jazz Night in America about the forgotten all-female big bands that toured the United States during World War II.

The All-Female Big Bands That Made History During World War II

Listen · 4:56
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/714405107/714413469" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
A Reunion Of Brotherly Love: Joey DeFrancesco Traces His Roots

Bassist Christian McBride (left) and Blues artist Joey DeFrancesco (right). Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

Jazz Night In America: The Radio Program

A Reunion Of Brotherly Love: Joey DeFrancesco Traces His Roots

WBGO and Jazz At Lincoln Center

Christian McBride interviews one of his oldest friends, organist Joey DeFrancesco, in their hometown of Philadelphia.

A Reunion Of Brotherly Love: Joey DeFrancesco Traces His Roots

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/687886485/688249013" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
'Jazz Night In America' Remembers Artists We Lost In 2018

Grammy-winning trumpeter Roy Hargrove passed away at age 49. Courtesy of The Roy Hargrove Estate hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of The Roy Hargrove Estate

Jazz Night In America: The Radio Program

'Jazz Night In America' Remembers Artists We Lost In 2018

WBGO and Jazz At Lincoln Center

Friends of the show offer memories and music of pianist Cecil Taylor, Village Vanguard owner Lorraine Gordon, South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela and trumpeter Roy Hargrove.

'Jazz Night In America' Remembers Artists We Lost In 2018

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/678136954/678160463" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
5 Dream-Team Grammy Collaborations We'd Love To See Sunday Night
Danny Clinch/Courtesy of the artists

World Cafe

5 Dream-Team Grammy Collaborations We'd Love To See Sunday Night

XPN

Drawn from this year's list of nominees, these are the live performances we'd program if we were in charge of Sunday night's award show.

Laura Marling On World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/580772433/580781685" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
From The Critic's Desk: A Preview Of 2017 In Jazz

Miguel Zenón's Típico is on Nate Chinen's list of albums to look forward to in 2017. Jimmy Katz/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Jimmy Katz/Courtesy of the artist

Jazz Night In America

From The Critic's Desk: A Preview Of 2017 In Jazz

Jazz critic Nate Chinen and Jazz Night In America's Christian McBride discuss a few of this year's hotly anticipated albums, including new work by Miguel Zenón and Kevin Eubanks.

From The Critic's Desk: A Preview Of 2017 In Jazz

Listen · 7:51
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/512449162/512501609" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Musicians in Their Own Words

Bassist Christian McBride, Plying the Bottom Groove

Following jazz great Ray Brown and funk's Bootsy Collins, Christian McBride is building on his predecessors' bass work. He McBride finds plenty of room to explore "the groove underneath — the bottom."

Bassist Christian McBride, Plying the Bottom Groove

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5328890/5335800" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Beyond Country And Blues: The Jazz Legacy Of Houston

Though not well known for its jazz scene, Houston, Texas has produced some of America's best jazz musicians, including Jason Moran. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

Jazz Night In America

Beyond Country And Blues: The Jazz Legacy Of Houston

Though not well known for its jazz scene, Houston has produced some of the country's best jazz musicians, including Jason Moran.

Beyond Country And Blues: The Jazz Legacy Of Houston

Listen · 8:07
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/483271411/483275265" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Christian McBride's 'The Movement Revisited'

Christian McBride. NPR hide caption

toggle caption
NPR

Jazz Night In America

Christian McBride's 'The Movement Revisited'

WBGO and Jazz At Lincoln Center

Jazz Night In America's host happens to be a Grammy-winning bassist, and he's written a special work. Hear a bluesy, soulful oratorio for big band and gospel choir, inspired by civil-rights icons.

Christian McBride's 'The Movement Revisited'

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/465573376/465585115" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Christian McBride On Ray Brown's Bass And James Brown's Appeal

Christian McBride performs at the Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, R.I. earlier in 2015. Eva Hambach/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Eva Hambach/AFP/Getty Images

Jazz Night In America

Christian McBride On Ray Brown's Bass And James Brown's Appeal

Over the last year, the bassist and NPR's Audie Cornish have discussed and dissected everything about jazz. Their latest chat, held for a live audience, focuses on how his own career started.

Christian McBride On Ray Brown's Bass And James Brown's Appeal

Listen · 7:54
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/456540205/456541326" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
What Does It Mean To Be A Child Prodigy In Jazz?

Joey Alexander, 12, recently released his debut album. Rebecca Meek/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Rebecca Meek/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

What Does It Mean To Be A Child Prodigy In Jazz?

Christian McBride, host of Jazz Night In America, examines the piano phenomenon Joey Alexander, his classmate Joey DeFrancesco and his own experience as a hotly tipped young talent.

What Does It Mean To Be A Child Prodigy In Jazz?

Listen · 8:00
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/428151118/428158469" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Christian McBride On 'A Love Supreme' And Its Descendants

John Coltrane during the recording of A Love Supreme in December 1964. Chuck Stewart/Courtesy of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History hide caption

toggle caption
Chuck Stewart/Courtesy of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History

Jazz Night In America

Christian McBride On 'A Love Supreme' And Its Descendants

The Jazz Night in America host shares thoughts on the Coltrane classic, which turns 50 this month, as well as two remarkable contemporary pianists.

Christian McBride On 'A Love Supreme' And Its Descendants

Listen · 8:16
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/387264223/387302812" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
'Everything Is Cyclical': Christian McBride Looks At 2015 In Jazz

Christian McBride is the host of NPR's Jazz Night In America. Anna Webber/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Anna Webber/Courtesy of the artist

Jazz Night In America

'Everything Is Cyclical': Christian McBride Looks At 2015 In Jazz

The bassist, host of NPR's new program Jazz Night In America, talks to Audie Cornish about two exciting new jazz records, as well as two birthdays he says he can't wait to celebrate.

'Everything Is Cyclical': Christian McBride Looks At 2015 In Jazz

Listen · 7:44
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/377224137/377267082" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
They Drive At 55: The Monterey Jazz Anniversary Tour

Christian McBride in rehearsal at the Kennedy Center. Jeffrey Kliman/Courtesy of the Kennedy Center. hide caption

toggle caption
Jeffrey Kliman/Courtesy of the Kennedy Center.

JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater

They Drive At 55: The Monterey Jazz Anniversary Tour

WBGO

An all-star sextet is crossing the country, advancing the festival's mission: to create and support jazz education and performance programs. JazzSet has highlights from the Kennedy Center.

They Drive At 55: The Monterey Jazz Anniversary Tour

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/175574129/221665845" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Christian McBride: Music Is About People, Not Grammys

Christian McBride. Chi Modu/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Chi Modu/Courtesy of the artist

Music

Christian McBride: Music Is About People, Not Grammys

The bassist has made the rounds with some of the best jazz musicians in the world, including Wynton Marsalis and Herbie Hancock. But for McBride, staying in the swing of things means reaching audiences. Guest host Celeste Headlee speaks with McBride about his new album, People Music.

Christian McBride: Music Is About People, Not Grammys

Listen · 17:33
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/189208146/189208137" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.

'The Movement Revisited' Pays Tribute To King

Bassist and composer Christian McBride has penned an hour-long musical work inspired by leading figures of the civil-rights movement. Hear a 17-piece big band and gospel choir perform McBride's tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.

Christian McBride's The Movement Revisited at Walt Disney Concert Hall - 05/16/2008

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99483337/99475771" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Concerts

Kennedy Center Celebrates The Trumpet

WBGO

Jazz today is blessed with many extraordinary trumpeters. We have two (Terell Stafford and Wallace Roney), as well as Christian McBride's trumpet-free band playing a Miles Davis blues piece, this week on JazzSet.

Kennedy Center Celebrates The Trumpet

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/93089421/93089416" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Concerts

For Senor Blues: A Horace Silver Tribute

Silver's soulful, Latin-tinged hard bop tunes implanted themselves into the heads of jazz fans everywhere. So bassist Christian McBride drew together many of Silver's former colleagues and a handful of all-star musicians to salute the great pianist.

Listen Now: Horace Silver Tribute Concert

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91687982/91087982" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Music Interviews

The Philadelphia Experiment

One part hip-hop, two parts jazz and a whole lotta Philly — that's what happens when you mix three master musicians, unrehearsed jamming and a risk-taking producer. Scott Simon talks to bassist Christian McBride and producer Aaron Levinson of The Philadelphia Experiment about their experimental new album.

The Philadelphia Experiment

Listen · 15:46
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1126622/126622" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Browse archive or search npr.org