Christian McBride: From Playing with Legends to Leading the Next Generation

In this episode, I’m joined by 11-time GRAMMY-winning bassist and bandleader Christian McBride for a conversation about his journey through jazz, mentorship, and building a lasting career in music.We talk about his early start—picking up the bass at age nine, learning from his father, and quickly finding his place in the jazz world. From there, Christian shares what it was like stepping into the scene as a teenager, playing alongside legends, and the mentorship that shaped his path.We also get into his transition from one of the most in-demand sidemen to a bandleader, including how Inside Straight came together and how that same mindset continues with his latest group, Ursa Major.We get into: 🎶 Learning bass at a young age and the moment everything clicked 🎺 Meeting Wynton Marsalis and entering the jazz world early 🧠 Mentorship in jazz then vs now 🎸 Transitioning from sideman to bandleader and building Inside Straight 🌟 Creating opportunities for emerging jazz artists through Ursa Major 🏆 The story behind his first GRAMMY win 💭 Advice for performance anxiety and building confidence on stageIf you’re interested in jazz, live music, and the journey behind great musicianship, this episode is for you.To learn more about Christian McBride and find upcoming performances, visit his website.--------------------Did you know Metro Atlanta has 200+ concerts EVERY WEEK! And we've got the full scoop!  Discover concerts, festivals, and open mics near you + exclusive videos from Atlanta's music scene!🔗 LiveMusicJunkiez.com 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook 📺 YouTube