Artist info

There's little doubt that bassist Christian McBride is at the top of his generation's class -- or perhaps now any generation's class though he is still not 40 years old. It seems has if he's been on the scene forever. That's because he hit New York as a teenager having arrived from his native Philadelphia. The number of recordings and performances -- as leader and certainly as sideman in support of everyone from Sting to Pat Metheny to Ray Brown to James Williams to Kenny Barron, et. al. -- is staggering. And the number of various projects he takes on along with administrative posts is, likewise, impressive. As many know McBride has been here previously on a number of occasions. He last performed at Murry's with Benny Green and Greg Hutchinson in tribute to mentor Brown. Having McBride as part of the 15th Anniversary Celebration -- particularly in the context of leading his new band, Inside Straight, with its new CD, Kind of Brown [Mack Avenue], only seemed appropriate.

"McBride's quintet dubbed 'Inside Straight'...one of the more melodically tuneful and harmonically focused contemporary ensembles combining past tradition with a fresh new approach to this potent style of jazz." -- All Music Guide.

Joining McBride is another one of our favorites, the impeccable saxophonist/flutist Steve Wilson -- who amazingly returns for the third time this calendar year having performed in the "House Concert" with Bruce Barth in June and as a member of the Blue Note 7 last March. Likewise, having Wilson here, whose other appearances include, among others, participating in "A Night of Jazz & Baseball" in April 2001, seems just right for the celebration.

The rest of Inside Straight consists of up-and-coming vibraphonist Warren Wolf, pianist Peter Martin and a drummer of the leader's choosing. Wolf, a Berklee College of Music graduate and Maryland native who will just hit 30 when he arrives here, already has outstanding credentials that include piano work in addition to vibes with Bobby Watson, Jeremy Pelt, Adonis Rose and others. Martin, essentially a child prodigy, attended Julliard on the way to working with a wide variety of artists including Betty Carter, Nicholas Payton, Joshua Redman and Wynton Marsalis. His only previous appearance here -- in 2003 -- was as a member of singer Dianne Reeves' group, and so it's great to have him return after six years.