Conversations With Christian

Christian McBride | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 8, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mack Avenue
• ASIN: B005NZWMFI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,716 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Christian McBride is a loquacious raconteur in addition to his finger-busting bass skills, though make no mistake about it- the only talk on this release is the musical kind two instruments make. Christian can converse with the best of them, as his Sirius/XM show will attest though these conversations sit him down in the studio with a diverse array of guests for unexpected and often amazing results. The resulting duets lay bare skill and emotion in the visceral tradition of real jazz improvisation.

Angelique Kidjo, George Duke, Sting, Eddie Palmieri, Chick Corea and Roy Hargrove along with the late masters Hank Jones and Dr. Billy Taylor- are among the guests. If you do really want to hear talking, check out Christian's free podcast series on iTunes and find conversations with nearly all of his esteemed guests and even a couple of video sessions.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars No Place to Hide: Acoustic Bass Duets November 19, 2011

By Dr. Debra Jan Bibel TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

A vocalist or another soloist, an acoustic bass: stark, raw music. Everything must go right because otherwise flaws are strikingly evident. Such a duet is one of the more interesting sounds in jazz, and it gives a bassist, who normally plays the background rhythm, the opportunity to perform melody and counterpoint as an equal. Christian McBride, one of the leading bassists today, had invited some other stellar musicians to be his partner in this innovative album. Angélique Kidjo from Benin starts the album with African roots, and Regina Carter's violin brings Bach into a jazz groove (it always works, ever since the Swingle Singers). Sting next offers his smooth rock blues. An Afro-Cuban beat is exemplified by the great Eddie Palmieri's piano work. This is followed by Baubles, Bangles and Beads, the old Broadway tune, which is twisted and enlivened by Roy Hargrove's trumpet. An elegant Spiritual by the elegant Dr. Billy Taylor is the next track. The third vocal belongs to Dee Dee Bridgewater, proving that a vocalist needs only a bass on stage. Three piano tracks by jazz veterans, Hank Jones, George Duke, and Chick Corea are widely different in style, from sophisticated modern to abstract avant-garde. Russell Malone and his electric guitar follow with a rendering of Sister Rosa where each musician takes turn in support and lead, but the similar timbre of strings does not work for me. Ron Blake and his saxophone, however, provides a night-and-day difference and his jazz is solid, taking me back to a small, smoky 1950s club. The final track is utterly amazing: a jew's-harp performance like you never had heard before! Gina Gershon is the star here who has extraordinary control in echoing the bass's many riffs and producing some wild sounds. Chitlins and Gefiltefish is a fun title for a happy, funky, and hilarious track that includs vocal comments and jive. In short, this album is unique and a bassist's dream. Albums that feature different artists on each track, as anthologies, may lack coherence and not always satisfy the listener. McBride keeps it together.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great album, really enjoyed it. January 17, 2012

By K. Lu

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Bought this as a gift for a bassist, who can be very picky about his music, and he liked it. So did everyone else who listened to it.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy better speakers November 28, 2011

By Oli C

Format:Audio CD

I was hooked from the first track, and amazed by the range of genres that the album takes in. This is partly because it features a wide range of guest players and singers who have reputations in very different parts of the music world. But it's also a testament to how good Christian is. He has had a long career supporting so many artists, it's no wonder that he can play in so many different ways. The end result is that whoever you are, whatever you normally listen to, you will inevitably find something you love in this album. Do you like music? Then you should buy it. And then you should buy speakers that can do his bass justice (mine were sometimes left buzzing in defeat!)