Christian McBride

Composer, Jazz Bassist & Verve Recording Artist

For his highly anticipated third release on Verve, acclaimed bassist Christian McBride has teamed with legendary producer George Duke to record the CD A Family Affair. "The music is diverse," says McBride, "lots of straight ahead jazz, some funk and R&B, and even some borderline folk. We wanted to show the world that all of this music can work together, just like a family - very different personalities yet still one entity."

Originally from Philadelphia, Mr. McBride was influenced by his great uncle, Howard Cooper, an avant-garde bassist, and his father, Lee Smith, who played bass for "Philly Soul" superstars such as the Delfonics, Blue Magic and Billy Paul. After studying bass at Philadelphia's High School for the Performing Arts, as well as with Neil Courtney of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Mr. McBride was awarded a scholarship to attend the Julliard School of Music in Manhattan.

Since the release of his first two recordings (Getting' To It and Number Two Express), Mr. McBride has amassed an avalanche of critical acclaim. Time Magazine heralded him as "the most promising and versatile bassist since Charles Mingus." He has played with a wide array of artists including Kathleen Battle, Ray Brown, Betty Carter, Paula Cole, Chick Corea, Bruce Hornsby, Bob James, Chaka Kahn, D'Angelo, Diana Krall, Wynton Marsalis, Pat Metheny, Joshua Redman, David Sanborn and Wayne Shorter, and has played on well over a hundred recordings.

He is a recipient of a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts to compose an extended work for jazz quartet and gospel choir that will premiere at the Portland Performing Arts Center in Maine. He was commissioned by Jazz at Lincoln Center to compose "Blues in Alphabet City," a full-scale work premiered by Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, featuring Mr. McBride as a special guest. He teaches at the Berklee School of Music.