Christian McBride: A Family Affair

On his third album as a leader, bassist Christian McBride reveals more shades of his musical makeup than he’s allowed to slip through in the past. Along with his renowned upright chops-typically solid and swinging in the great tradition of Ray Brown-the Philly phenom also reveals himself to be a Bootsy-influenced funkster, Jamerson-inspired groovemeister, and Jacoesque fretless electric soloist. All this, plus his first stab at lyric writing, makes A Family Affair McBride’s most diverse and widely appealing project to date.

Christian and his spirited crew kick it off with “I’m Coming Home,” a loose second-line groover replete with in-the-studio party atmospherics. Christian lays down a fat bassline on this catchy soul-jazz opus, and his mates urge him on with shouted encouragements during his bowed bass solo. Ramsey Lewis meets the Rebirth Brass Band.