Review
by Ken Dryden
Conversations
with Christian is an unusual release, as it features the veteran
bassist playing duets with a number of good friends. The vocal meetings
include Angélique Kidjo, Sting, and Dee Dee Bridgewater (the latter with
a hilarious, funky cover of the Isley Brothers' signature song "It's
Your Thing"). The pairings with musicians of McBride's generation
(trumpeter Roy Hargrove, tenor saxophonist Ron Blake, and guitarist
Russell Malone) all exceed expectations. There are several enjoyable
duets with pianists, one featuring Latin jazz master Eddie Palmieri, a
duo improvised tango by Chick Corea and the leader, plus an all too rare
acoustic outing by the talented George Duke (who tears up the keyboard
with his hard-charging "McDukey Blues"). But McBride's meetings with Dr.
Billy Taylor (playing his beautiful "Spiritual" with some potent arco
playing by the bassist) and the elegant, swinging meeting with the
gifted jazz master Hank Jones ("Alone Together") remain moments to
savor, as they are among the final recordings by the two jazz greats,
both of whom died in 2010. The last track is a funky blues just for
laughs, with actress Gina Gershon joining the bassist by playing a Jew's
harp, and featuring lots of comic spoken exchanges between the two.
Throughout it all, Christian McBride plays with the chameleon-like
adaptability of a Milt Hinton or Ray Brown. In the two-plus decades
since arriving on the jazz scene, Christian McBride has demonstrated
that he is a jazz master in the making, and this is easily one of his
most compelling sets.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/conversations-with-christian-mw0002231979
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Reseña
por Ken Dryden
Conversations
with Christian es un lanzamiento inusual, ya que presenta al veterano
bajista tocando a dúo con una serie de buenos amigos. Los encuentros
vocales incluyen a Angélique Kidjo, Sting y Dee Dee Bridgewater (esta
última con una divertidísima y funky versión de la emblemática canción
de los Isley Brothers "It's Your Thing"). Los dúos con músicos de la
generación de McBride (el trompetista Roy Hargrove, el saxofonista tenor
Ron Blake y el guitarrista Russell Malone) superan todas las
expectativas. Hay varios dúos agradables con pianistas, uno con el
maestro del jazz latino Eddie Palmieri, un tango improvisado a dúo por
Chick Corea y el líder, además de una salida acústica demasiado rara del
talentoso George Duke (que destroza el teclado con su duro "McDukey
Blues"). Pero los encuentros de McBride con el Dr. Billy Taylor (tocando
su hermosa "Spiritual" con un potente arco del bajista) y el elegante y
oscilante encuentro con el talentoso maestro del jazz Hank Jones
("Alone Together") siguen siendo momentos para saborear, ya que se
encuentran entre las últimas grabaciones de los dos grandes del jazz,
ambos fallecidos en El último tema es un blues funky sólo para reírse,
con la actriz Gina Gershon uniéndose al bajista tocando un arpa judía, y
con muchos intercambios cómicos hablados entre los dos. En todo
momento, Christian McBride toca con la adaptabilidad camaleónica de Milt
Hinton o Ray Brown. En las más de dos décadas que lleva en la escena
del jazz, Christian McBride ha demostrado que es un maestro en ciernes, y
éste es sin duda uno de sus sets más convincentes.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/conversations-with-christian-mw0002231979
www.christianmcbride.com ...
1 - Afrika
Featuring – Angélique Kidjo
2 - Fat Bach And Greens
Featuring – Regina Carter
3 - Consider Me Gone
Featuring – Sting
4 - Guajeo Y Tumbao
Featuring – Eddie Palmieri
5 - Baubles, Bangles And Beads
Featuring – Roy Hargrove
6 - Spiritual
Featuring – Billy Taylor
7 - It´s Your Thing
Featuring – Dee Dee Bridgewater
8 - Alone Together
Featuring – Hank Jones
9 - McDukey Blues
Featuring – George Duke
10 - Tango Improvisation # 1
Featuring – Chick Corea
11 - Sister Rosa
Featuring – Russell Malone
12 - Shake ´n Blake
Featuring – Ron Blake
13 - Chitlins And Gefiltefish
Featuring – Gina Gershon
Label: Mack Avenue – MAC 1050
Country: US
Released: 2011
Genre: Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/5406781-Christian-McBride-Conversations-With-Christian
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