The upright bass has been argued the instrument to the gateway of jazz. Acoustic bassist extraordinaire, composer, arranger, educator, curator and administrator, Christian McBride, is one of the most important and omnipresent figures in the jazz world. For over 20 years, McBride has appeared in numerous musical settings with just about any musician imaginable in the jazz as well as R&B and pop worlds. From playing with the likes of Milt Jackson, Roy Haynes, Chick Correa, Herbie Hancock and Pat Metheny; to playing with and/or arranging for the likes of Isaac Hayes, Chaka Khan, Lalah Hathaway, Sting and the legendary James Brownwhat has always been unique about McBride is his versatility. In a stellar career that continues to showcase his remarkable talents as a consummate musician, bassist Christian reached another milestone with the 2011 release of The Good Feeling, bringing him a Grammy award for this album. His most recent release, Conversations with Christian, features an eclectic list of duet partners including Sting, Chick Correa, Eddie Palmieri, Angelique Kidjo and others. His solo introduction, shapeless but soulful, eventually led to a major blues in sauntering tempo, and the rest of his quintet fell neatly into step.. -New York Times Bassist Christian McBride emerged in the 1990s as a Wynton Marsalis-inspired artist with a deep respect for the jazz tradition who was nonetheless free-spirited enough to bring other styles to it. - The Guardian