CHRISTIAN McBRIDE
Christian McBride first performed with his electro-funk project, A Christian McBride Situation, at the Monterey Jazz Festival, 11 years ago. Many of the Grammy-winnning bassist’s New Jersey fans, though, will get their first opportunity to see the group live on Aug. 13, when it performs at the seventh annual Montclair Jazz Festival, taking place in Montclair’s Nishuane Park.
Joining McBride will be DJ Logic (turntables), Rachel Z (keyboards), Antoinette Henry (vocals), Adam Rogers (guitar) and Bernard Purdie (drums).
The free festival is produced by the Montclair-based educational organization Jazz House Kids. McBride, a Montclair resident who is married to Jazz House Kids founder Melissa Walker, serves as Jazz House Kids’ artistic chair and the festival’s artistic director.
Joining A Christian McBride Situation at the festival will be Dee Dee Bridgewater; the George Coleman Organ Quartet, Michele Rosewoman’s New Yor-Uba ensemble, Louis Prima Jr. (playing his father’s music) and nine Jazz House Kids instrumental and vocal groups. The Jazz House Kids Faculty Collective — directed by Nathan Eklund and using arrangements by Ed Palermo — is putting together a tribute to the late David Bowie and the late Prince.
Actress S. Epatha Merkerson and WBGO-FM’s Gary Walker will co-host.
For information on the festival, other events being presented in conjunction with it, and the live stream that will be available on Aug. 13, visit montclairjazzfestival.org.
