Christian McBride Adds Another Chapter to his Growing Legacy

Written By Mike Greenblatt
Christian McBride and Takashi Matsunaga

Christian McBride and Takashi Matsunaga

As if Montclair bassist-composer-educator-arranger-producer Christian McBride wasn’t busy enough, what with his responsibilities as Artistic Director for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, leading his Big Band, leading his trio, his jazz-rock fusion band, his funk band, hosting his National Public Radio program and his SiriusXM show, appearing on 400+ albums as a sideman, winning 11 Grammys, curating the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, tutoring young progenies in the Jazz House Kids program and hosting his cruise, there’s still time for him to record and release a duo album with pianist Takashi Matsunaga. 

Ride Five was completed in April and out by July. In a compact 37:06, the seven Matsunaga compositions ring true with smarts, curves and syncopated surprise. The telepathic improvisation between the musicians is stunning. (And his “Star Spangled Banner” at a 2018 NBA game is still the best National Anthem of anybody’s, cool, funky and hip.

Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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