Christian McBride & Ursa Major

Christian McBride is the most influential and versatile bassist of his generation: from big-band sounds to fiery improvisations in intimate settings and classic quartet lineups, to R&B, straight-up funk, and forays into pop, the 54-year-old simply masters it all, and he has worked with every major figure in his field. What further sets him apart: He seeks collaboration with musicians who are just starting out. With Ursa Major—“Great Bear”—he has assembled just such a band of rising stars. Ely Perlman (git), Nicole Glover (sax), Savannah Harris (dr), and Mike King (p) are in their 20s and 30s. They come from different backgrounds but are able to weave them into an exciting interplay. “I wanted an ‘all-in’ band,” McBride said. A band that masters various styles and operates at different energy levels. “Free, funky, swinging, flexible”—that’s how he describes Savannah Harris’s playing. It applies to this fantastic band as a whole.