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With his bold, swinging style, and robust sound, Philadelphia native Christian McBride is one of the most highly regarded and foremost bassists of his generation.
Initially coming to prominence in the early '90s, McBride was championed by elders including Benny Carter and longtime idol and mentor, bassist Ray Brown. He also gained attention playing alongside similarly inclined contemporaries like trumpeter Roy Hargrove, pianist Benny Green, and saxophonist Joshua Redman. His early albums -- 1995’s Gettin' to It and 1996'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 fusion, funk, and soul influences. Along the way he earned six Grammy Awards, including two for his big-band albums, 2011's The Good Feeling, and 2017's Bringin' It. Along with performing, McBride is a well-known radio personality, hosting The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian on SiriusXM satellite radio, and Jazz Night in America on NPR. His expertise has also been tapped for many advisory positions, including Artistic Director for the Newport Jazz Festival, Artistic Advisor for Jazz Programming at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), and Associate Artistic Director at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. McBride and his wife, vocalist Melissa Walker, run Jazz House Kids, an institution dedicated to jazz education in Montclair, New Jersey.