Prime (album)
| Prime | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 24, 2023 | |||
| Recorded | 16–17 December 2021 | |||
| Studio | Power Station, NYC | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 54:28 | |||
| Label | Mack Avenue | |||
| Producer | Christian McBride, Romelle Canonizado | |||
| Christian McBride chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| All About Jazz |   [1] |
| AllMusic |  [2] |
| The Denver Post | [3] |
| Jazzwise | [4] |
| Tom Hull | A−[5] |
Prime is a studio album by American jazz bassist Christian McBride recorded together with saxophonist Marcus Strickland, trumpeter Josh Evans, and drummer Nasheet Waits.[6][7] The album was released on 24 February 2023 via Mack Avenue label.[8][9]
Background[edit]
For McBride, this is the 18th album as a band leader and the second one for his band New Jawn after Christian McBride's New Jawn released in 2018.[10][11] Prime contains eight tracks: five originals written by bandmembers and three jazz standards.
McBride explained, "So, we recorded this at the end of 2021, I believe. We were fresh off of the gig at the Vanguard, so a lot of the stuff that we recorded were things that we had worked on that week. It wasn't really that difficult to figure out what the material was going to be. I think putting a recording together is not that dissimilar to putting a set together. You want to make sure you start off with something exciting — something that's going to lock the people in as best as you think you can, and then you just try to shape it so it's a good listening experience."[12]
Reception[edit]
Kevin Le Gendre of Jazzwise wrote, "Trumpeter Josh Evans and saxophonist Marcus Strickland form an excellent horn section, stoking a freeish fire on occasion but the latter's bass clarinet ostinatos make a big impact insofar as they lend more heft to the low register as well as enriching the harmonic palette. Although largely perceived as a straight ahead champion, McBride has always been pleasingly eclectic, and his absorption of the avant-garde flourishes of Mingus, Max and Dolphy leads him down long, winding, interesting roads here."[4] Mike Jurkovic of All About Jazz noted, "With trigger quick wit and telepathy Prime's flagship track develops into a full-on, fun-house jam as the delightfully chord-less quintet run roughshod over this and all of Prime's eight master class tracks."[1] Michael Major of Broadway World commented, "Prime exemplifies jazz greats at the zenith of their powers who insist on scaling greater heights."[13] Ian Lomax of Jazz Journal added, "New Jawn may be a step too far for many, but there is no doubting the innovation, the talent, and the passion. This is album is certainly worth a listen for all McBride fans and the musically adventurous."[14]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Head Bedlam" | Christian McBride | 5:46 |
| 2. | "Prime" | Marcus Strickland | 7:29 |
| 3. | "Moonchild" | Nasheet Waits | 4:44 |
| 4. | "Obsequious" | Larry Young | 8:05 |
| 5. | "Lurkers" | Christian McBride | 8:48 |
| 6. | "The Good Life" | Ornette Coleman | 7:35 |
| 7. | "Dolphy Dust" | Josh Evans | 5:03 |
| 8. | "East Broadway Run Down" | Sonny Rollins | 7:17 |
| Total length: | 54:28 | ||
Personnel[edit]
- Christian McBride – bass, producing
- Josh Evans – trumpet
- Marcus Strickland – tenor sax, bass clarinet
- Nasheet Waits – drums
References[edit]
- ^ a b Jurkovic, Mike (4 March 2023). "Christian McBride's New Jawn: Prime album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ Collar, Matt (2003). "Prime". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ Saunders, Bret (31 January 2023). "Bandleader Christian McBride's new "jawn," and more jazz this month". The Denver Post. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ a b Le Gendre, Kevin (2023). "Christian McBride's New Jawn: Prime". Jazzwise. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ "Tom Hull: Grade List: Christian McBride". Tom Hull. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ Edgar, Hannah (24 March 2023). "Review: What's a 'New Jawn'? Only Christian McBride's hottest band yet". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ DeLuca, Dan (2023). "Jazz great Christian McBride won't name his five favorite Philly musicians. Here's why". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ Douris, Raina; Junod, Kimberly (1 August 2023). "Christian McBride finds the groove again in his latest album, 'Prime'". NPR. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ Blumenfeld, Larry (27 February 2023). "'Prime' by Christian McBride's New Jawn and 'Corridors' by Jazz Master Kendrick Scott Reviews: No Piano, No Problem". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ Shteamer, Hank (20 February 2023). "Christian McBride, Revered in Jazz, Is Playing the Long Game". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ Baltin, Steve (12 March 2023). "Sunday Conversation: Christian McBride On New Music, The Need For Jazz Education And 'Sesame Street'". Forbes. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ Enos, Morgan (9 March 2023). "Christian McBride On His New Jawn's 'Prime' And How Parameters Gave Him Creative Freedom | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ Major, Michael (10 January 2023). "Christian McBride Returns With 'Christian McBride's New Jawn: Prime'". Broadway World. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ Lomax, Ian (17 April 2023). "Christian McBride's New Jawn: Prime". Jazz Journal. Retrieved 28 April 2023.