Christian McBride & Ursa Major

Christian McBride is an eleven-time GRAMMY-winning bassist, composer, and bandleader. Additionally, he's also artistic director, a respected educator and advocate for youth, and radio host. Whether behind the bass or away from it, Christian McBride is always part of the music. From jazz to R&B, and pop/rock and 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.

Although he has performed with fellow giants Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau and Brian Blade in recent years, McBride started thinking about forming a new group as early as 2018. "I knew that at some point I wanted to have what I call an 'all-in' band. As you know, I used to call my old band, the CMB, a hybrid band, which meant we could kind of go anywhere, musically." With this new quintet, he has a band that can combine different styles in one group. He continues, "Oh, and I also specifically knew I wanted it to be a young band. So I started looking around and seeing who was out there, who I thought might be able to fit that sort of hybrid / all-in vibe."

In Ursa Major, he is joined by four rising young master instrumentalists including saxophonist Nicole Glover, guitarist Ely Perlman, pianist Mike King, and drummer Jonathan Barber.