Christian McBride - Conversations with Christian, Mack Records

I often get review copies of cd’s sent to me. Reviews I do not publish elsewhere will appear here.

Christian McBride - Conversations with Christian

Mack Records

One of my least favorite expressions is “a good problem to have.” It ranks right up there with “it is what it is” as being a discussion ender. Christian McBride (bass) suffers from having too many interests, and way too many friends. Good problem to have, right? Well, sort of, but it depends. In this case, for one thing, it depends on intended usage. I liken this project to a hybrid bicycle. Being a bicycle snob myself, that is not necessarily a good thing. However, I have mellowed in my old, old age, and have grown to accept that some people at some times will, in fact, find the hybrid to be the perfect thing for them, as opposed to the worst of both worlds, as I have always considered it to be. Take this all with a grain of salt however, as I issue the following sincere disclaimer. Christian McBride is, hands down, the man. His tone is undeniably gorgeous, his facility is light years beyond anyone else’s. He plays the upright as if it were a tiny toy in his hand, and is capable of doing whatever he wants on the instrument, which is an absolute joy to listen to, and he is that, always an absolute joy to listen to. This is probably partially what accounts for all those friends. However, this is where the trouble starts, where the hybrid comparison begins. This project would probably be great dinner party music for a certain set, and it is true that McBride’s bass and the duo format gives a bit of a thread throughout. Unfortunately, the styles are all over the place, and I think even the casual listener would be hard pressed to not find preferences pop up instantly. That’s fine, often there are tracks one prefers on any CD, but this project is that to the nth degree. Being a traditionalist, I loved several tracks. The Dr. Billy Taylor and the Hank Jones cuts are sublime, and make me want more. There are several others including the Hargrove, Ron Blake, and Russell Malone tracks as well. But I will probably not be putting the CD on often, as it is not worth it to me to skip over the Sting and the Dee Dee Bridgewater tracks. Nothing against those phenomenal musicians, but as opposed to what Ms. Bridgewater insists incessantly on her showcase, it ain’t my thing.

Come Rain or Come Shine

This beautiful standard was stuck in my head on the ride in to work and I decided it was appropriate, that it serves as an homage to my

 commute:

I'm gonna love you, like nobody's loved you
Come rain or come shine
High as a mountain, deep as a river
Come rain or come shine
I guess when you met me
It was just one of those things
But don't you ever bet me
'Cause I'm gonna be true if you let me
You're gonna love me, like nobody's loved me
Come rain or come shine
We'll be happy together, unhappy together
Now won't that be just fine
The days may be cloudy or sunny
We're in or out of the money
But I'm with you always
I'm with you rain or shine

It shouldn't surprise me that it was stuck in my head since I've been ob

sessed with it lately, playing many versions over and over, transcribing Grant Green's solo on the great Stanley Turrentine album Up at Minton's, and generally driving my wife bonkers with it.  

A few favorite versions are 

1) Art Blakey - Moanin'....Lee Morgan just kills me, actually makes me laugh out loud. 

2) Sarah Vaughan

3) Frank Sinatra

With bells on....

I love the people in this world who have bells on their bike.  That sounds condescending, but I truly, truly don't mean it that way.  I think they are the optimists of the world, I think one would have to be to believe that the pleasant little ring a ding will make a difference among the horrible screeches, blats, honks, and squeals of the big city.  It's like the Miles Davis Quintet, circa 1956, with Red Garland gently caressing the sweet little piano intro, "Ding, dong, ding, dong," in the middle of a mashup of Masada, Minor Threat, and Gwar. 

"Ask me how do I feel, ask me now that we're cosy and clinging.  Well sir, all I can say is if I were a bell I'd be ringing..."

It's genteel and sweet, and I was lucky enough to have a bird's eye view of a classic bell scene this morning while going north on the fairly brand spanking new, drainage challenged Allen Street bike lane.  I was stuck behind a very upright woman on a dutch city style bicycle of the sort that people keep claiming to be the ideal commuter.  I personally don't find anything ideal about 40 lbs and a wingspan that barely fits the Manhattan bridge bike lane, let alone squeezing between cars in traffic, but to each their own.  That's the thing about all these commuter proclamations "your lock should cost more than your bike," "you have to have fenders," "we need more bike lanes," "bike lanes are no good."  Different people have different styles, different priorities.  Personally, I prefer taking a lane and actually feel safer being in traffic.  To some, comfort is important, and they would prefer to sit upright, separated from the cars and not have street scum splash all over them (yes, I eschew fenders, I know...I know...), but we use the street differently, and what works for the bike messenger might not work for the businessman.  The best we can do is try to empathize with what other people might find important, try to look beyond ourselves, at least try.  But I digress.  

Finally having passed the giant wingspanned commuter, I nearly clocked a Lindsay Lohan lookalike.  Fortunately, I was spared the pedestrian hate, since she never noticed a thing.  She was crossing the street, I think she was at least, in a very meandering way and had just gotten to the giant potted plant partitions when I passed her, head bobbing away and looking North through giant Aviators, even though traffic was coming from the south.  I heard the tinkle tinkle of the little bell and had to look back.  Li-lo continued staring north, the bell continued to ring and the cyclist eventually went around the still roaming aimlessly child star look alike, never saying a word, but ringing constantly.  

"Ask me how do I feel, little me with my quiet upbringing.  Well, sir, all I can say is if I were a gate I'd be swinging!  And if I were a watch I'd start popping my springs, or if I were a bell I'd go ding, dong, ding, dong, ding!"

"Well, if I were a salad I know I'd be splashing my dressing" -  interestingly, I did see a man pouring salad dressing onto this very same bike lane..., "ask me how to describe this whole beautiful thing, well if I were a bell I'd go ding dong, ding dong.....GET THE HELL OUT MY WAY, WHY IN THE WORLD DO YOU THINK IT IS OK TO AMBLE AIMLESSLY IN TRAFFIC WHILE WEARING HEADPHONES??!!"

Just not zen enough I guess, I strive to be "Relaxin with the Miles Davis Quintet," but often am still much more "Never Mind the Bollocks."