Since its debut at the 2012 Detroit Jazz Festival, the Mack Avenue SuperBand's all-star lineup has undergone four incarnations with the latest being helmed by jazz bassist Christian McBride. Fresh from recording his new album, Out There, with his Christian McBride Trio, the celebrated virtuoso will be bringing the supergroup to Chicago for the Symphony Center Presents (SCP) Jazz series on Friday, February 19, at 8 p.m.
For the first time since being named music director of the Mack Avenue SuperBand, ChristianMcBride will be bringing the group to the Chicago Symphony Center with The Willie Pickens Trio set to open the concert.
Although this isn't his first year with the SuperBand, his elevation in status made it possible to bring the rest of his Trio on board:
"Each year brings a new, all-star roster for the group, but for the first time this year it is on tour under the leadership of veteran jazz bassist Christian McBride.
"Completing the group are McBride's other trio members, Christian Sands (piano) and Carl Allen (drums), as well as Mack Avenue recording artists Gary Burton (vibraphone), Tia Fuller (saxophone), and Sean Jones (trumpet)."
Despite his already having his plate full with his Jazz Night In America hosting duties in addition to his roles in the SuperBand and his Trio, McBride revealed that he jumped at the chance to lead his label's all-star supergroup:
"I've been a Mack Avenue artist for quite some time now. My catalogue with Mack Avenue is bigger than it has been for any other label I've been affiliated with, so I feel like an important member of the Mack Avenue family.
"It would have been good just to be on the gig, period, but when they asked me to be the musical director it seemed like a simple call to make."
Tickets for all SCP Jazz series concerts can be purchased by phone at 800-223-7114 or 312-294-3000; online at the CSO's official website or at the Symphony Center box office: 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60604.
