Christian McBride: Conversations with Christian

The most in-demand bassist on the scene since Ray Brown, 39-year-old McBride engages in 13 intimate duets on his tenth CD as a leader that show off the full spectrum of his talent. With Benin- born singer Angelique Kidjo he puts the bounce in an infectiously upbeat “Afrika” then gets busy with the bow on “Fat Bach and Greens,” a piece with violinist Regina Carter that opens with a classical flourish before seguing to a blues-drenched midtempo walking-bass vamp. Sting appears on a hip reading of his “Consider Me Gone” while trumpeter Roy Hargrove swings lithely on top of McBride’s insistent groove on “Baubles, Bangles and Beads.” The bassist exhibits his lyrical penchant on “Spiritual” with the late pianist Dr. Billy Taylor. Another poignant moment comes on his collaboration with the late pianist Hank Jones on a beautiful rendition of “Alone Together.” McBride’s life-long love of funk comes across on his jam with Dee Dee Bridgewater on The Isley Brothers’ “It’s Your Thing.” And his bebop roots come out on challenging unisons with saxophonist Ron Blake on “Shake and Blake.” For humorous relief, there’s an oddball duet with actress Gina Gershon (on Jew’s harp) on the funky “Chitlins and Gefiltefish.”