Christian McBride trio album set for 29 July release
With his second new album in only a matter of months Christian McBride is to release Out Here, the stellar bassist’s fifth album for Detroit label Mack Avenue later this month. It's his eleventh as a leader. A trio album, McBride is joined by pianist Christian Sands and drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr. who have been with the Philly jazz legend for three years. Owens Jr is also the drummer in McBride’s big band, while McBride heard Sands on the radio first off, his a sound that made the bassist make a mental note about a future hiring. Out Here follows People Music released in May, a "Golden Age" record made in the present day, with vibes and alto sax to the fore in the arranging. McBride sees the new album as “hardcore swingin,’ blues, and the American songbook”, and is as surprised as anyone that he’s fronting a piano trio. Tunes include down home blues ‘Ham Hocks and Cabbage’, Oscar Peterson’s ‘Hallelujah Time’, a new take on the Ahmad Jamal trio arrangement of ‘Cherokee’, McBride’s own ‘I Guess I’ll Have To Forget’, and Dr Billy Taylor’s ‘Easy Walker’. Look out for a review in these pages, soon.
Photo: Chi Modu / Mack Avenue

Christian Sands above left, Christian McBride, and Ulysses Owens, Jr