Christian McBride is an eight-time GRAMMY Award-winning bassist, composer, and bandleader. McBride is the Artistic Director of the historic Newport Jazz Festival, New Jersey Performing Arts center (NJPAC) and the TD James Moody Jazz Festival, and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. Christian is also a respected educator and advocate as the Artistic Director of Jazz House KiDS, and the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Summer Sessions. In addition to consistent touring, McBride hosts NPR's “Jazz Night in America” and "The Lowdown: Conversations With Christian" on SiriusXM. Whether behind the bass or away from it, Christian McBride is always of the music. From jazz, to R&B, pop/rock, hip-hop/neo-soul, to classical, he is a luminary with one hand ever reaching for new heights, and the other extended in fellowship—and perhaps the hint of a challenge—inviting us to join him.
Christian McBride leads New Jawn, an all-star quartet that draws on the powerhouse connection between McBride and drummer Nasheet Waits. The frontline of Josh Evans (trumpet) and Marcus Strickland (sax) soar as they are propelled by one of the world’s greatest rhythm sections with no piano or guitar chords to ground them. The word “Jawn” is used in Philadelphia slang (McBride’s hometown) to describe a “person place or thing” (Urban Dictionary).
