Double Bass Christian McBride

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GMarto

Oct 4, 2007
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#1
I’m interested to find out what people think of Christian McBride’s playing.
Christian McBride is in my opinion one of the shining lights of double bass. I place him among the finest bassists I have heard play. I think you can hear his enthusiasm for music in his time feel, that buoyant pulse that he has that lifts a piece of music. I also think that his note choice and sense of interplay with other musicians shows he has great maturity for a younger player. It is clear from his playing that he has a deep sense of the past but he is willing to experiment with new styles of music and I think that is something that should be applauded.
Anyway enough from me what does every one else think of him?
 
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#7
What I like about him is that most doublers usually sound better on one instrument vs. the other and McBride is one of the few guys who is an absolute monster on both. Plus I got to hang out with him once and he was very humble and down to earth.
 
#8
McBride is it for me. He's got a huge swinging sound and pulse and gets a great sound everywhere on the bass. One of my favorite things is that he gets a bass sound all over and doesn't sound like some of the guys who solo in the upper register a lot i.e. Gomez and the like. I don't know if that really explains it that well, but hopefully you get the picture. Plus he doesn't have super low action and he can still play at plenty of speed with great ideas. His doubling is incredible. Saw him this summer and when they played Havana it was inspiring. Plus I've got a recording or two of him when he was like 21. Killing! There's not really many guys who are close to him in regards to his huge sound and pulse, doubling capabilities, and great ideas and musical depth around on top of his chops. No wonder he's so busy gigging huh? It's just inspiring.
 
#10
GMarto said:
I also think that his note choice and sense of interplay with other musicians shows he has great maturity for a younger player.
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I think Christian rocks -- the real deal if there ever was one. But I'm wondering, now that he's past his mid-30's and has been on the major league scene for nigh-on 20 years, when do we stop thinking of him as a younger player? Time rolls on and the oldest Gen X'ers are now in their 40's!!

Respectfully submitted by a middle-aged guy who doesn't feel that ancient next to Christian....
 
#13
That's a fair point Damon. He's not a kid any more. I think he even mentions the fact that people tend to think of him as kind of a "young wiz" on his web site. I guess I fall into that trap because I have recordings of him playing at a young age and I remember when he was an up and coming talent.
 
#15
Since Ray Brown passed, I think Christian is the most hard swinging bass player out there. His time is impeccable, his pocket is so freakin' deep, and I think you could put him up against any soloist (on any instrument) and he could hold his own. He's got it down, and you don't see that much anywhere. I saw him live in Buffalo with Pat Metheny a couple weeks ago, and he sounds the same as he does on his records. His sound is so authentic (and his articulation is incredible too).
 
#16
dkziemann said:
Since Ray Brown passed, I think Christian is the most hard swinging bass player out there.
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I'm a HUGE fan of Christian McBride's playing. HUGE. I think there are a bunch of guys that swing like crazy. Robert Hurst, Eric Revis, Reginald Veal, Peter Washington, etc, etc. The thing that makes him so special in my mind is that he swings like crazy, is funky as all get-out, and is soloist with a ton of chops but plays very tasteful solos that are very soulful and swinging. The total package.
 
#17
OK, I'll be the bummer here. He is a great player and some things I have heard really kill.
He also has a lot of bad habits, particularly a very sloppy left hand that does not serve him well a large part of the time. He is far from a total package, David Holland, John Clayton, Michael Moore, those guys are total packages in his field.

He is charismatic, has great time, tone and a ton of world class experience. Like a lot of guys with that kind of schedule, his technique goes up and down. I walked out of a performance of his group in Berkeley because he was just not playing well, and since his style is not really my thing, I just want to hear him play well.

Of course there are a ton of great recordings he is on and some great youtube clips, I love the one with Dave Holland.
I just feel like this thread is uncritical, and could lead to bad habits in young players.

IMO, he made his name early and gets away with a lot. Obviously, I am not perfect and
if I was getting thrown onstage with Sonny Rollins and Roy Hanyes I wouldn't mind these types of issues being raised about me.
I just really think at his level with the amazing opportunities he gets, he could put more time into the bass.
 
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#18
damonsmith said:
OK, I'll be the bummer here.
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You... the bummer... never. ;)

That's what I like about you though. You keep it interesting around here.:hyper:

damonsmith said:
I just really think at his level with the amazing opportunities he gets, he could put more time into the bass.
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Huh? This a can't quite understand though. He has obviously played a ton of bass and I'm sure put plenty of time into the thing. At 35 years old he's doing better than I could ever dream of... especially by time time I'm 35 (in 2 years) Actually makes me kinda sick.

Oh and Milt Hinton, Jimmy Blanton, Oscar Pettiford, etc, etc, etc all had less than perfect technique. Didn't seem to slow them down at all.
 
#19
When I look at that left hand, I always wonder how he can get anything done at all. My wrist would be screamin' at me to cut that **** out!

But he manages to sound really great and swing hard. I haven't seen him live. And although I'm not a giant fan of his solo stuff, he's done some beautiful things with other people. LOTS of other people.
 
#20
fingers said:
You... the bummer... never. ;)

That's what I like about you though. You keep it interesting around here.:hyper:



Huh? This a can't quite understand though. He has obviously played a ton of bass and I'm sure put plenty of time into the thing. At 35 years old he's doing better than I could ever dream of... especially by time time I'm 35 (in 2 years) Actually makes me kinda sick.

Oh and Milt Hinton, Jimmy Blanton, Oscar Pettiford, etc, etc, etc all had less than perfect technique. Didn't seem to slow them down at all.
Click to expand...

Different era, different standards. FWIW, I prefer the clips I have seen of you to what I have heard of him, so don't be so down on yourself.
Nobody is perfect, but I don't think we should be uncritical of these famous players.
Only in the interest of raising the level of playing and the status of the instrument for everyone.
I am not saying Christian is not great, or that one needs perfect technique to be great, but there is room for improvement.
The crucial difference between Milt Hinton's or even Malachai favors imperfect technique is that it actually WORKED.
It often doesn't for Christian and I think it does not get pointed out enough - he gets positioned as the greatest ever and I doubt he would agree to it.
 
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