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Saxophonist Christopher McBride is based in New York City. His work includes education, arranging and composition in addition to performance. He has been slowly but steadily turning heads with his ubiquitous work as an invaluable sideman since the mid-2000’s. Now Christopher is gaining respect amongst fans, critics, and his peers as one of the most versatile saxophonists in the world. His 2012 debut album Quatuor de Force certainly establishes his ability to front a group and write his own soulful, melodically indelible tunes. Applauded for his ability to play in all musical situations, McBride has the ability to unleash a fiery attack and serrated tone, but on his first album he explores a more measured, mellow sound heavily influenced by contemporary R&B—with a strong shot of Cannonball Adderley’s post-bop sensuality—but his improvising is very rigorous and cogent. As a composer, McBride was selected as the 2022 Make Jazz Fellowship artist at The 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica, California.

Born in Chicago, and starting his professional career there in 2007, Christopher made the move to NYC in 2013. His group,The Whole Proof, has played venues all over New York. Christopher ran his ‘Singer Meets Saxophonist’ series at the famed Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem from 2017-2019. The musicians he has performed with over the years span many genres sharing the stage with Billy Preston, Percy Gray, Roy Hargrove, Pete Rock, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco, Guy Sebastian, Solange, Ne-Yo, Jennifer Hudson, Alice Smith, Brandon Flowers, Lea DeLaria, 88 Keys, Milton Mustafa, Winard Harper, and the Marquis Hill’s Blacktet.

As a recording artist, McBride’s February 2023 release ‘Ramon’ made the Top 25 on the JazzWeek Charts and stayed on the charts for 14 weeks as well as making the JazzWeek Top 100 albums for 2023. The sophomore release has received critical acclaim. All About Jazz called the album “a sonic marvel that showcases a robust grasp of bebop and contemporary jazz idioms.” As a performing artist he has received a Grammy win for his work as a collaborator/soloist on Steven Feifke and Bijon Watson’s 2022 album “Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra.”

As an educator, McBride has served as the Director of Education for the Second Line Arts Collective, a non-for-profit organization based out of New Orleans. His primary duties included writing curriculum for the Little Stompers division and teacher development. He also teaches for Jazz at Lincoln Center regularly, as well as touring nationally with different educational programs.

As a journalist and consultant, McBride has worked with Forbes Ignite, the innovation coalition of Forbes.

Carmen sings Monk is a tribute band to the genius of Thelonious Monk. His music swings and is so fun to play ! In addition to the instrumentals, the band features many of the tunes from the fantastic recording “ Carmen sings Monk” , Carmen McRae’s homage to one of her favorite jazz composers.

Juli Wood - Tenor sax and vocals

Gabriel Wade - Trumpet

Steve Million- piano

Clark Sommers- bass

Mike Schlick- drums

The No Kap Kollective is a 20+-person big band made up of instrumentalists and vocalists led by trumpeter and composer-arranger Nickolas Kaplan. Performing original works alongside arrangements of Roy Hargrove, J Dilla, Solange, Willow Smith, Stevie Wonder, Flying Lotus, and Geri Allen, the band blends styles and sensibilities across the spectrum of Black American Music. It also celebrates Chicago's improvised music community, featuring musicians born, raised, and/or nurtured in Chicago who carry the torch for the next generation of music. This performance celebrates the release of the No Kap Kollective's debut album, "This is the Highlife," supported by funding from Chicago DCASE, the Illinois Arts Council, and individual donors via GoFundMe.

Compositions & Arrangements

Nickolas Kaplan, trumpet

Vocals

Alysha Monique

Chris Robbin'

Woodwinds

Kenthaney Redmond, flute

Dudley Owens, alto sax, soprano sax, flute

Natalie Lande, alto sax, clarinet, soprano sax

Reginald Lewis, tenor sax

Cameron Jones, tenor sax, clarinet

Jacob Slocum, baritone sax, bass clarinet

Len'i McKinney, baritone sax

Trumpets

John Moore, Jr.

Miles Franklin Smith

Justin Williams

Ryan Nyther

Jon McQuade

Trombones

Kirby Fellis

Emma Blau

Royce Harrington-Turner

Robyn Smith (bass)

Rhythm Section

Thaddeus Tukes, vibraphone

Brandon Harper, piano, electric piano, synth

Steven Manns, acoustic/electric bass, keybass

Isaiah Spencer, drums