Christian McBride/Weather Report

[Cali]

Caught this group yesterday at the Verizon Festival in Pasadena. Featured in the group were Ron Blake and Geoff Keezer. What surprised me is they played a very Weather Report-like set, even playing Zawinul's "Sweer Nighter". It was a dynamite set and the whole group was "on".

My question is when did McBride go down this path? I have never heard him play like this. Is this what his new cd sounds like? If it does, I'm buyin'.

[Jim Alfredson]

Yes... the new CD is very very WR influenced. They burn through a version of Boogie Woogie Waltz.

What did you think of Ron Blake? We can't wait to do this little tour with him in October. FUN FUN FUN!

[Cali]

Ron Blake "is a b-a-a-d mutha-shut-yo-mouth"!

[Jim Alfredson]

Yes he is. It's going to be something else to do this tour with him. Dream come true.

[Cali]

B) Wish your tour included L.A. Oh, well.

[Aggie87]

I saw the McBride show when they passed through Stuttgart back in March. It was a great show (double bill with Gary Burton/Makoto Ozone)! McBride was very talkative, and was really enjoying playing with the guys in his band. I really like Vertical Vision - if you liked the show, definitely pick up the disc! Ron Blake plays great, and my copy (Euro. edition) has some live video on it as well. Was Terreon Gully playing drums with him still?

[Cali]

I didn't get the drummer's name.

[RainyDay]

I caught McBride doing the WR thing about a year ago at Yoshi's. In fact, it was being filmed/taped but I don't know whatever happened with that. Anyway, the band was just smoking. I don't remember who was in the band, just remember that I like it. It was the first time I saw him with his own band, and not with some other headliner.

Saw McBride more recently with Diana Krall at Yoshi's and that was interesting. Honestly, it was.