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Christian McBride: Prime

By Cary Tenenbaum
April 3, 2023
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Prime's opening track, "Head Bedlam," opens with a cacophony of horns playing in a style reminiscent of

Sun Ra

piano
1914 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Sun Ra's Arkestra. This transforms into a quiet, cool riff with bass and drums leading the way, shifting the music into a more accessible groove before returning to the aptly titled bedlam in the track's closing seconds.

It is a brave opening to

Christian McBride's New Jawn

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Christian McBride's New Jawn's second release because it is not the easiest way to attract the casual jazz listener. But one would surmise that McBride & Co are not aiming at the smooth jazz fan, but rather at a listener willing to spend time with a record and hear its complete musical story. As the album progresses, the quartet of bass, drums, sax and trumpet offers a varied mix of sounds and tempos that should appeal to a wide audience, so the choice of "Head Bedlam" as the opener is curious.

Cut two is the title song, an upbeat piece with saxophonist

Marcus Strickland

clarinet, bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Marcus Strickland and trumpeter

Josh Evans

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Josh Evans playing in tandem and then soloing. In the third cut, "Moonchild," we are met with the low registers of a bass clarinet and the upright bass playing a somber but appealing melody, then joined by the trumpet. "Lurkers" opens with McBride bowing his upright and drummer

Nasheet Waits

drums
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Nasheet Waits joining him in evoking the mystery of something or someone lurking beneath the surface. "The Good Life" is another upbeat and melodic track driven by the sax with a nice bass and drum duo midway. Overall, the album tells a musical story well worth listening to.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Head Bedlam; Prime; Moonchild; Obsequiois; The Lurkers; The Good Life; Dolphy Dust; East Broadway Rubdown.

Personnel

Christian McBride

bass

Josh Evans

trumpet

Marcus Strickland

clarinet, bass

Nasheet Waits

drums

Album information

Title: Prime | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Brother Mister Productions

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Christian McBride Concerts

Oct 2 Thu

Christian McBride & Brad Mehldau @ Clarice Smith...

The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park, MD

Oct 4 Sat

Christian McBride & Brad Mehldau @ The Flynn

Flynn Center for The Performing Arts
Burlington, VT

Oct 5 Sun

Christian McBride, Brad Mehldau

Sanders Theatre
Cambridge, MA

Oct 7 Tue

Christian Mcbride & Brad Mehldau

Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
Minneapolis, MN

Oct 7 Tue

Christian Mcbride & Brad Mehldau

Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
Minneapolis, MN

Oct 8 Wed

Christian Mcbride & Brad Mehldau

Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
Minneapolis, MN

Oct 8 Wed

Christian Mcbride & Brad Mehldau

Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
Minneapolis, MN

Oct 15 Wed

Christian McBride & Brad Mehldau @ The Wallis

Wallis Annenberg Center For The Performing Arts
Beverly Hills, CA

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