Christian McBride

Christian McBride (born May 31, 1972) is an American jazz bassist, bandleader, composer. He has appeared on more than 400 recordings as a sideman, and is an eleven-time Grammy Award winner.

McBride has performed and recorded with a number of jazz musicians and ensembles, including Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Joe Henderson, Diana Krall, Roy Haynes, Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Eddie Palmieri, Joshua Redman, George Duke, and Ray Brown's "SuperBass" with John Clayton, as well as with pop, hip-hop, soul, and classical musicians like Sting, Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Isaac Hayes, The Roots, Queen Latifah, Kathleen Battle, Renee Fleming, Carly Simon, Bruce Hornsby, and James Brown.

Early life McBride was born in Philadelphia on May 31, 1972. After starting on bass guitar, McBride switched to double bass. He is a graduate of the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts and studied at the Juilliard School.

Later life and career

McBride was heralded as a teen prodigy when he joined saxophonist Bobby Watson's group, Horizon, at the age of 17. From age 17 to 22, McBride played in the bands of older musicians such as Watson, Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson, Milt Jackson, J. J. Johnson and Hank Jones, as well as his peers such as Roy Hargrove, Benny Green, and Joshua Redman. In 1992, jazz bassist Ray Brown formed a group called SuperBass with McBride and Brown protégé John Clayton. The group released two albums: SuperBass: Live at Scullers (1997) and SuperBass 2: Live at the Blue Note (2001).

McBride was a member of saxophonist Joshua Redman's Quartet in the early 1990s with pianist Brad Mehldau and drummer Brian Blade. McBride began leading his own groups in 1995 after the release of his debut album Gettin' to It (Verve). Saxophonist Tim Warfield, pianists Charles Craig and Joey Calderazzo, and drummers Carl Allen and Greg Hutchinson are among the musicians who played in McBride's early groups. From 2000 to 2008, McBride led his own ensemble, the Christian McBride Band, with saxophonist Ron Blake, pianist/keyboardist Geoffrey Keezer, and drummer Terreon Gully. The band released two albums: Vertical Vision (Warner Bros., 2003) and Live at Tonic (Ropeadope, 2006).

McBride appeared as a featured collaborator on Dave Brubeck's 1995 album Young Lions & Old Tigers. Brubeck composed the track "Here Comes McBride" as a piano and double bass duet for the two musicians. A review in PopMatters described the piece as having a jaunty blues feel that reflected Brubeck's roots in stride piano.

In 1996, McBride contributed to the AIDS benefit album Offbeat: A Red Hot Soundtrip produced by the Red Hot Organization.

McBride primarily plays double bass; however, he is equally adept on bass guitar. He played both on the album The Philadelphia Experiment, which included keyboardist Uri Caine and hip-hop drummer Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson. Other projects have included tours and recordings with the Pat Metheny Trio, the Bruce Hornsby Trio, and Queen Latifah. Like Paul Chambers, McBride can solo by playing his bass arco style.

In 2006, McBride was named to the position of Creative Chair for Jazz with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, taking over from Dianne Reeves. He was signed to a two-year contract that was renewed for an additional two years. He was succeeded by Herbie Hancock in 2010.

McBride performed with Sonny Rollins and Roy Haynes at Carnegie Hall on September 18, 2007, in commemoration of Rollins' 50th anniversary of his first performance there. McBride was also tapped by CBS to be a producer for the tribute to Rollins on the 2011 Kennedy Center Honors broadcast.

In 2008, McBride joined John McLaughlin, Chick Corea, Kenny Garrett and Vinnie Colaiuta in a jazz fusion supergroup called the Five Peace Band. They released an album in February 2009 and completed their world tour in May of that year, as Brian Blade took over for Vinnie Colaiuta as drummer in Asia and some US concerts. The album Five Peace Band Live won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group

In 2011, McBride released his first big band album, The Good Feeling, for which he won the Grammy for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance. For 2026 Grammy Awards, he got a nomination for the album Windows - Live in the Best Jazz Performance category alongside Chick Corea & Brian Blade.

McBride has led several groups: Inside Straight, featuring alto/soprano saxophonist Steve Wilson, vibraphonist Warren Wolf, pianist Peter Martin and drummer Carl Allen; a trio featuring pianist Christian Sands and drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr. (and later, drummer Jerome Jennings); his 18-piece big band; an experimental funk group called A Christian McBride Situation with pianist/keyboardist Patrice Rushen, turntablists DJ Logic and Jahi Sundance, saxophonist Ron Blake and vocalist Alyson Williams; the New Jawn, featuring trumpeter Josh Evans, saxophonist Marcus Strickland, and drummer Nasheet Waits; and most recently (starting in 2022), Ursa Major, featuring saxophonist Nicole Glover, guitarist Ely Perlman, pianist/keyboardist Mike King, and drummer Savannah Harris.

In March 2016, McBride was named artistic director of the Newport Jazz Festival, succeeding the festival's founder and artistic director, George Wein. He stepped down in September 2025.

McBride hosts NPR's radio show, Jazz Night In America.

Personal life Christian is married to jazz singer and educator Melissa Walker. Walker, with contributions by McBride, leads the Jazz House Kids, a jazz school in their home town of Montclair, New Jersey. Each summer, they both appear at the Montclair Jazz Festival, along with student ensembles led by the instructors, professional ensembles composed of instructors, and guest acts.

McBride shared the story of his first encounters with Freddie Hubbard in "The Gig" and his relationship with James Brown in "Mr. Soul On Top" on The Moth Radio Hour, a radio show and podcast devoted to story-telling.

James Moody Jazz Festival McBride curates and advises the annual James Moody Jazz Festival, which is held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, NJ.

Discography As leader/co-leader Recording date Title Label Year released Personnel / Notes 1994–08, 1994–09 Gettin' to It Verve 1995 1995–11 Number Two Express Verve 1996 1998–01 A Family Affair Verve 1998 2000–02 SciFi Verve 2000 2002–06 Vertical Vision Warner Bros. 2003 2005–01 Live at Tonic Ropeadope 2006 Live 2008–09 Kind of Brown Mack Avenue 2009 with Inside Straight 2009 Conversations with Christian Mack Avenue 2011 2011 The Good Feeling Mack Avenue 2011 Big Band. Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. 2013 People Music Mack Avenue 2013 with Inside Straight 2013 Out Here Mack Avenue 2013 2013–09 The Movement Revisited Mack Avenue 2020 2014–12 Live at the Village Vanguard Mack Avenue 2015 Live. Grammy Award for Best Improvised Jazz Solo. 2017 Bringin' It Mack Avenue 2017 Big Band. Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. 2017–05 Christian McBride's New Jawn Mack Avenue 2018 2019 For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver Mack Avenue 2020 Big Band. Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. 2021 Live at the Village Vanguard (with Inside Straight) Mack Avenue 2021 with Inside Straight 2021–12 Prime Mack Avenue 2023 2024 But Who's Gonna Play the Melody? Mack Avenue 2024 Co-led with Edgar Meyer 2025 Without Further Ado, Vol 1 Mack Avenue 2025 Big Band. Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. Collaborations With Roy Hargrove and Stephen Scott Parker's Mood (Verve, 1995)

With Nicholas Payton and Mark Whitfield Fingerpainting: The Music of Herbie Hancock (Verve, 1997)

As The Philadelphia Experiment (with Uri Caine, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Pat Martino, John Swana, Larry Gold and Aaron Levinson) The Philadelphia Experiment (Ropeadope, 2001) – rec. 2000

With Chick Corea and Steve Gadd Super Trio: Live at The One World Theatre, April 3rd, 2005 (Mad Hatter Productions, 2006) – Live rec. 2005

With Hank Jones and Jimmy Cobb West of 5th (Chesky, 2006)

With Craig Taborn and Tyshawn Sorey Flaga: Book of Angels Volume 27 (Tzadik, 2016) – rec, 2015 as part of John Zorn's Book of Angels series

Compilation It's Christmas on Mack Avenue (Mack Avenue, 2014)

As sideman Recording date Main artist Album title Label Year released Notes 1990–09 Obsession Muse 1991 1990–10 Public Eye Novus/RCA 1991 1991–03 Greens Blue Note 1991 1991? Kenny Kirkland GRP 1991 1991–04 Hot Brass Candid 1992 1991–06 Shadows Timeless 1992 1991–09 Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn Verve 1992 Henderson won a Grammy Award for Best Improvised Jazz Solo 1991–09 The Lion and His Pride Muse 1994 1991–11 Testifyin': Live at the Village Vanguard Blue Note 1992 Live 1991–12 Live at Fat Tuesday's MusicMasters 1992 Live 1991–09, 1992–01 Reverse the Charges Muse 1992 1992–06 Legends MusicMasters 1993 1992–12 Hand in Hand Novus 1993 1992–12 That's Right! Blue Note 1993 1992–12 Presenting Chris Potter Criss Cross Jazz 1993 1992 Joshua Redman Warner Bros. 1993 1993–01 After Dark Criss Cross Jazz 1994 1993–02, 1993–03 Lookin' on the Bright Side DIW 1993 1993–06 Munchin' Muse 1993 1993–06 Tenor Legacy Blue Note 1994 1993? The Leading Man DIW 1993 1994–03 Moodswing Warner Bros. 1994 1994–03 The Place To Be Blue Note 1994 1994? Pearls Elektra 1995 1994–09, 1994–11 Joe Henderson Double Rainbow: The Music of Antonio Carlos Jobim Verve 1995 1994–05, 1994–08, 1994–11 A Turtle's Dream Verve 1995 1994–09 Diana Krall Only Trust Your Heart GRP 1995 1994–11 McCoy Tyner Prelude and Sonata Milestone 1995 1994–12 Signs of Life Criss Cross Jazz 1995 1994–12 Tango in Harlem Verve/Gitanes 1995 1994–03, 1995–01 Joe Lovano Quartets: Live at the Village Vanguard Blue Note 1995 Live 1995–01 Jimmy Smith Damn! Verve 1995 1995–01 Jimmy Smith Angel Eyes: Ballads & Slow Jams Verve 1996 1995–01 Roy Hargrove Family Verve 1995 1995–03, 1995–04 Introducing Brad Mehldau Warner Bros. 1995 1995? Michael Wolff Jumpstart! Jimco 1995 1995 Michael Wolff 2AM Cabana Boy 1995 1995–10 Fleurine Meant to Be! Blue Music 1996 1996–01 Cedar Walton Composer Astor Place 1996 1996–03 McCoy Tyner What the World Needs Now: The Music of Burt Bacharach Impulse! 1997 1992–03, 1996–06 Joe Henderson Big Band Verve 1997 1996–08 Harold Mabern Mabern's Grooveyard DIW 1998 1996–08 Frank Foster Leo Rising Arabesque 1997 1996 Chick Corea Remembering Bud Powell Stretch 1997 1997–03 Renee Rosnes As We Are Now Blue Note 1997 1997? Diana Krall Love Scenes Impulse! 1997 1997? Right On My Way Home Blue Note 1997 on tracks #1, 3–5, 7 1998–06 Yutaka Shiina United BMG 1998 1998? Freddie Hubbard God Bless the Child MusicMasters Jazz 1998 1998? George Duke After Hours Warner Bros. 1998 1999–01 These Are Soulful Days Blue Note 1999 1999–05– 1999–06 Eliane Elias Everything I Love Blue Note 2000 1999–06 Harold Mabern Maya with Love DIW 2000 2000? Naturally Telarc 2000 2001–01 Jim Hall Jim Hall & Basses Telarc 2001 on tracks #2, 8 2001–01, 2001–03, 2001–06 Diana Krall The Look of Love Verve 2001 2001–09 Sting All This Time A&M 2001 2001–11, 2001–12 Diana Krall Live in Paris Verve 2002 Live 2002 George Duke Face the Music Big Piano Music (BPM) 2002 2002 Chris Botti December Columbia 2002 2002–12 Chick Corea Rendezvous in New York Stretch 2004 Live 2003–01 Pat Martino Think Tank Blue Note 2003 2003? Sting Sacred Love A&M 2003 2003? David Sanborn Time Again Verve 2003 2003–11 McCoy Tyner Illuminations Telarc 2004 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album 2003–2004 Diana Krall The Girl in the Other Room Verve 2004 2004? Regina Belle Lazy Afternoon Peak 2004 2004? David Sanborn Closer Verve 2004 2004–12 Pat Metheny Tokyo Day Trip Nonesuch 2008 Live 2005–01 Eddie Palmieri Listen Here! Concord Picante 2005 2005? George Duke Duke Big Piano Music (BPM) 2005 2005? Chris Botti To Love Again: The Duets Columbia 2005 2005–08 Chick Corea Chillin' In Chelan Stretch 2007 Japan-only release 2005–10 Pat Metheny Day Trip Nonesuch 2008 2006–05, 2006–06 Back East Nonesuch 2007 2006–07 Chris Botti Italia Columbia 2007 2006–12 McCoy Tyner Quartet McCoy Tyner Music 2007 2007–04 Bruce Hornsby Camp Meeting Legacy Recordings 2007 2007? Queen Latifah Trav'lin' Light Verve 2007 2008? David Sanborn Here and Gone Decca 2008 2008? George Duke Dukey Treats Big Piano Music (BPM) 2008 2008–10, 2008–11 Chick Corea and John McLaughlin Five Peace Band Live Concord 2009 Live. Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. 2009–05 James Carter Heaven on Earth Half Note 2009 2011–10 Ulysses Owens Jr. Unanimous Criss Cross Jazz 2012 2011–03, 2011–11 Paul McCartney Kisses on the Bottom Hear Music 2012 2010–10 2012–12 Chick Corea Trilogy Concord 2013 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album 2013? George Duke DreamWeaver Big Piano Music (BPM) 2013 2014–02 Joseph Tawadros Permission to Evaporate Joseph Tawadros 2014 2014 Diana Krall Wallflower Verve 2015 2015–01 Peter Bernstein Signs Live! Smoke Sessions 2017 [2CD] Live 2016 Diana Krall Turn Up the Quiet Verve 2017 2019–09 Joshua Redman RoundAgain Nonesuch 2020 2007, 2019–09 Joshua Redman LongGone Nonesuch 2022 2022–05, 2022–06 George Freeman The Good Life HighNote 2023