Christian McBride - Conversations With Christian (2011)

'Conversations with Christian' sees the acclaimed bassist perform 13 unique duets with an array of stars from the pop, jazz and world music scenes, including vocalists Sting, Angélique Kidjo and Dee Dee Bridgewater plus jazz stars Chick Corea, George Duke, Hank Jones and Roy Hargrove, amongst others.

The 39-year-old maestro places himself in the forefront on a duet apiece with "13 of my closest musical friends and cohorts" - singers Angélique Kidjo, Sting and Dee Dee Bridgewater; pianists George Duke, Eddie Palmieri and Chick Corea, as well as Dr. Billy Taylor and Hank Jones (who both passed away in 2010); violinist Regina Carter; trumpeter Roy Hargrove; guitarist Russell Malone; tenor saxophonist Ron Blake; and actress Gina Gershon. In the process, McBride unleashes the full measure of his already legendary skills, crafting as complete a portrait of his diverse interests - different variations of the blues and African-American church experience, bebop, the American Songbook, Latin music, free jazz, even comedy - as he has ever presented.