Christian McBride : NPR

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

January 26, 2018 • 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

30:04

Embed <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

January 30, 2017 • 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 7:51

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

Music Articles

Bassist Christian McBride, Plying the Bottom Groove

April 11, 2006 • 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
Embed <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

June 23, 2016 • 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 8:07

Download
Embed <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

February 4, 2016 • 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'

56:13

Embed <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

November 18, 2015 • 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 7:54

Download
Embed <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?

July 31, 2015 • 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 8:00

Download
Embed <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

February 18, 2015 • 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 8:16

Download
Embed <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

January 14, 2015 • 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 7:44

Download
Embed <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

September 18, 2014 • 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

57:59

Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/175574129/221665845" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Courtesy of the artist

Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz

Christian McBride On Piano Jazz

August 22, 2014 • On this program from 2001, the bassist takes center stage to discuss his favorite gigs and jam with host Marian McPartland in "Billie's Bounce" and "Midnight Sun."

Christian McBride In The Studio

57:51

Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/121086784/342437070" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Sean Jones, Jeff 'Tain' Watts On JazzSet

Sean Jones performs at the Detroit Jazz Festival. Jeff Forman hide caption

toggle caption

Jeff Forman

JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater

Sean Jones, Jeff 'Tain' Watts On JazzSet

August 15, 2013 • The trumpeter and the drummer each bring high-energy bands to the Detroit Jazz Festival.

Christian McBride (right) with Peter Martin at KPLU. Justin Steyer/KPLU hide caption

toggle caption

Justin Steyer/KPLU

Favorite Sessions

Christian McBride: The Bass Boss

Jazz24

June 14, 2012 • Among early bebop musicians, Ray Brown was king of the bass. He mentored Christian McBride, and today, McBride is jazz's "go-to" bassist. While visiting KPLU, he performs with pianist Peter Martin.

Live At The Village Vanguard

Christian McBride And Inside Straight: Live At The Village Vanguard

WBGO

November 11, 2009 • What do you do when you're one of the world's top bassists and you get a craving to play the Vanguard again? If you're Christian McBride, you assemble a top-notch, straight-ahead acoustic quintet.

Christian McBride And Inside Straight: Live At The Village Vanguard

1:15:58

Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/120260191/120337185" 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

June 6, 2013 • 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 17:33

Download
Embed <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

January 18, 2009 • 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

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

Best Music Of 2008

The Year In Jazz: Best CDs Of 2008

WBGO

November 25, 2008 • It's been a remarkable year for jazz, and narrowing down a Top 10 list for 2008 takes a bit of work. Once again, there's room for enthusiasm and optimism about the state of jazz and its ability to inspire musicians and listeners alike. Here's a look (and a listen) back at some of the year's highlights.

Concerts

Kennedy Center Celebrates The Trumpet

WBGO

July 31, 2008 • 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
Embed <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

June 20, 2008 • 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

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

Concerts

Christian McBride Band at the Kennedy Center

WBGO

August 2, 2007 • Fun-loving, strong-willed bassist Christian McBride can play anything he wants, and he likes to "mess with the jazz fans." McBride performs with his band at the Kennedy Center in concert recorded by JazzSet.

Christian McBride Band at the Kennedy Center on JazzSet

Audio is no longer available

Music Articles

The Philadelphia Experiment

July 28, 2001 • 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

Only Available in Archive Formats.

Real Media

Christian McBride And Inside Straight On JazzSet

Christian McBride performs at the Detroit International Jazz Festival. David Tallacksen hide caption

toggle caption

David Tallacksen

Concerts

Christian McBride And Inside Straight On JazzSet

WBGO

May 27, 2010 • At the Detroit Jazz Festival, bassist Christian McBride leads a five-piece band in front of thousands of fans. The band performs McBride originals, plus tunes from Freddie Hubbard and Duke Ellington.

Christian McBride And Inside Straight On JazzSet

57:59

Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/127212349/143763617" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">