Happy 50th birthday today to jazz bassist Christian McBride (born 5/31/72). McBride had established himself as a contemporary jazz icon as one of the genre’s most progressive and fearless artists. The Grammy-winning bassist, composer, and all-around jazz impresario is as prolific as he is endeared, releasing a continual stream of new releases and collaborating with hundreds of respected names over the years. The 17-piece Christian McBride Big Band has become one of the most consistently strongest large ensembles on the modern jazz scene since its 2011 Mack Avenue debut, The Good Feeling. Watch McBride and his big band perform live in 2018..