Christian McBride’s Ursa Major Quintet
(Supreme Standards tent, Love Supreme festival, Sunday 7 July 2024. Review by Adam McCulloch)
It feels as though the ubiquitous bass master Christian McBride has been around forever, such has been his meteoric career since he began playing with the likes of Bobby Watson, Benny Golson and Freddie Hubbard in the late 1980s. And yet such is his exuberant and youthful stage presence it still comes as a shock to find he’s 52.
These days he’s all about giving super talented young players the same chance he himself earned. His Ursa Major Quintet showcases phenomenal and characterful musicians still in their 20s and early 30s. Each contributed delightfully contrasting solos: Nicole Glover has a thoughtful, dexterous narrative approach on tenor; Savannah Harris – who played gigs early in her career with Kenny Barron – brings huge flamboyance to the kit, she’s a riveting presence; Michael King was virtuosic and imaginative even though this reviewer’s ears were still resonating with Hiromi’s extraordinary performance which finished a few minutes earlier; and Ely Perlman brought sonic landscapes through sustained chords and great lyricism to more boppy tunes.
Among the standouts was Different Steps, a wildly exciting take on Coltrane’s classic and Brou Ha Ha, by McBride, a funky piece of catchy, jagged funk-bop which brought the tent down. During quieter moments there was a little sound bleed from Joss Stone’s performance on the nearby main (North Downs) stage, but it didn’t detract from a stellar performance.
McBride was happy to perform tracks by his young side men and women, each exploring different aspects of contemporary jazz.
Later, a still beaming McBride joined the magnificent Chaka Khan, the festival headliner, for a sensational Night in Tunisia in front of a crowd of some 40,000. Khan’s bass player, Melvin Lee Davis, enjoyed the moment hugely and we were all left with wonderful memories.
Photo credit: Tatiana Gorilovsky
Christian McBride – basses
Ely Perlman – guitar
Michael King – keys
Savannah Harris – drummer
Nicole Glover – tenor saxophone
Christian McBride and Kurt Rosenwinkel will be at Wigmore Hall on Wednesday 17 July – BOOKINGS
Love Supreme Festival 2025 will take place from 4-6 July – website
