Christian McBride & Ursa Major

“McBride, as always, is strong-fingered and nimble… a paradigm of unforced, unselfconscious virtuosity.” – Jazz Times

Christian McBride is an eight-time Grammy-winning bassist, composer and bandleader. He is the Artistic Director of the historic Newport Jazz Festival and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). Moreover, he directs the TD James Moody Jazz Festival and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. McBride also advocates for and educates youth. To that end, he serves as Artistic Director of Jazz House KiDS and the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Summer Sessions. Whether playing the bass or working off-stage, Christian McBride always engages with the music. He has made his mark, from jazz to R&B, pop/rock and hip-hop/neo-soul to classical, becoming a luminary, a living legend.

Four rising young master instrumentalists join him. Saxophonist Nicole Glover, guitarist Ely Perlman, pianist Mike King and drummer Savannah Harris play alongside him.

Pianist Michael King is an alumnus of the prestigious Oberlin Conservatory. Also, he attended the Thelonious Monk Institute and The Ravinia Jazz Scholars program. Further, he currently tours with DeeDee Bridgewater, Robin Eubanks and Marcus Printup. 

Savannah Harris, a New York City-based drummer, composer and producer, immerses herself in jazz. Savannah sees its connection to all forms of diasporic and folkloric music as central to her approach. Additionally, she currently tours extensively with Christian McBride, Cecile McLorin Salvant and Kenny Barron. In 2019, Savannah also received the Harlem Stage Emerging Artist Award.

Saxophonist Nicole Glover has emerged as a rising star and highly sought-after musician. For example, she plays an integral role in the supergroup ARTEMIS and performs with Wynton Marsalis’s Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Furthermore, she collaborates with Victor Lewis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Buika, Rudresh Mahanthappa and Geoffrey Keezer, among others.

Guitarist Ely Perlman, from Tel Aviv, Israel, is a third-year student at the Berklee College of Music. Additionally, Perlman collaborates with renowned artists like Shai Maestro and Ben Wendel. Also, Ely leads multiple musical projects.

Recommended for Fans of Esperanza Spalding, Ron Carter, Stanley Clarke and Dave Holland.

LEARN MORE: https://www.christianmcbride.com/

📸: Mallory Turner