Christian McBride: Five String

[Dr. Cheese]

This looks like a bass I have seen Christian McBride play before, but I was sure it was a four. I think this is the first time I have seen him on a five.

 

[kobass]

That looks like a 5-string version of his Pensa fretless 4. Same great tone!

(bass solo at 4:35)

 

[two fingers]

He is just so.……. freaking great.

I was lucky to see him as a 16 year old kid when he was already a session player at Blue Note. He just continues to blow me away.

Anyone else notice he uses his left pinky exactly zero times?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

He is just so.……. freaking great.

I was lucky to see him as a 16 year old kid when he was already a session player at Blue Note. He just continues to blow me away.

Anyone else notice he uses his left pinky exactly zero times?

I noticed it.

 

[Infidelity]

Whoa! Didn't know Christian McBride plays electric bass. Crazy good!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Whoa! Didn't know Christian McBride plays electric bass. Crazy good!

Except for one clip where was not playing his bass, I have only seen Christian McBride on fretless.

 

[kobass]

Here's some more info from Christian's web site...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
If you click on the electric bass, it lists three basses-one Pensa (fretless 4) and two Atelier Z 5ers (one fretted and one fretless). All were built by Mas Hino. Mas Hino NYC

He's also listed on the Fodera site as being one of their endorsers. He's shown with a fretless 4, but I've never seen pics of him playing it.
https://dta0yqvfnusiq.cloudfront.net/fodera/2016/04/christian-mcbride.jpg

 

[kobass]

I'm not sure how old the info on his web site is. I noticed that he's mixing driver sizes (4x10 and 1x15). I guess he can expect a visit from the TB driver police soon!

 

[JimK]

Whoa! Didn't know Christian McBride plays electric bass. Crazy good!

IIRC, he started on EB.
Still, way back, I bought his early albums...and assumed he only played URB...and then I caught a PBS showing of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival (1996).
McBride was with Joshua Redman & played only a Pensa Jazz.
He destroyed it.

Something like this-

Invalid Link Removed

 

[DWBass]

IIRC, he started on EB.
Still, way back, I bought his early albums...and assumed he only played URB...and then I caught a PBS showing of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival (1996).
McBride was with Joshua Redman & played only a Pensa Jazz.
He destroyed it.

Something like this-

Invalid Link Removed

Thumping too?!?! Awesome. Always thought he was an Acoustic bass player only! You learn something new every day.

 

[JimK]

A Weather Report vibe with McBride channeling "Barbary Coast"-

 

[bararan]

If you look up george duke trio videos on youtube you'll see his Atelier Z's in action. For instance:


And here's a video in which he plays his fretted Atelier Z:

 

[raphaeld]

If you look up george duke trio videos on youtube you'll see his Atelier Z's in action. For instance:


And here's a video in which he plays his fretted Atelier Z:

Damn you were fast!! I was just about to post that vid with George Duke!!

Christian is the definition of coolness!!

 

[raphaeld]

check him out on a 4 string upright!! super funky

 

[Real Soon]

Just, good heavens.

I can't decide if seeing him play makes me glad I sold my fretless* off rather than keep sucking on it, or want to buy another one and give it its own proverbial 10,000 hours' play time. His left pinky plays better than I ever will but I'll just enjoy the groove in the meantime haha

*(it was a Fender J that I got before I knew what I wanted & needed in a bass. Fun for a while but it wasn't getting play time)

 

[jerry]

About ten years ago he did this project with Chick Corea and Jon McLaughlin on both electric and upright, monster stuff.

 

[oranje]

If you look up george duke trio videos on youtube you'll see his Atelier Z's in action. For instance:


And here's a video in which he plays his fretted Atelier Z:

I watch this George Duke video at least 2 to 3 times a week to remind me of what close to perfect bass tone sounds like. This video is a soulful, groove gem.

 

[Spun__Kee]

Anyone else notice he uses his left pinky exactly zero times?

Not true. At 40+ seconds in, when he's in the lower register, he uses his "pinky".

He's using double bass fingering technique. In the upper register, double bassist rarely use the 4th finger. It's 99.99% 1, 2, 3.

Lower register, it's 1, 2, 4 (with 3).

This technique helps immensely with playing in tune.

 

[two fingers]

Not true. At 40+ seconds in, when he's in the lower register, he uses his "pinky".

He's using double bass fingering technique. In the upper register, double bassist rarely use the 4th finger. It's 99.99% 1, 2, 3.

Lower register, it's 1, 2, 4 (with 3).

This technique helps immensely with playing in tune.

Good catch!

 

[bobdabilder]

Not my cup of tea but guitar was killin it