Christian McBride to Succeed George Wein as Newport Jazz Artistic Director

NEWPORT, RI—Christian McBride, a 43-year-old jazz virtuoso and multiple-Grammy winning bassist, has been named Artistic Director of the Newport Jazz Festival and is poised to eventually succeed legendary producer George Wein, 90, as its music curator.

It's the first time in the 62-year history of the benchmark-setting Newport Jazz Festival that a musician other than Wein will serve as artistic director.

McBride, who has performed with virtually every major jazz artist alive, will work alongside Wein and ultimately be the festival founder's successor, Wein announced on Thursday.

Wein, chairman of the Newport Festivals Foundation, said that McBride will be the "beacon of the future of Newport Jazz Festivals" and recalled first meeting McBride in 1989.

"I knew that he was someone special," Wein said. "Little did I know that nearly 30 years later, he would become the special someone to continue my legacy."

In 1989, McBride was still a teenager and already making a name for himself as a child prodigy, becoming a member of Bobby Watson's band at just 17.

“I am deeply humbled by my appointment as artistic director of the Newport Jazz Festival – the most storied and legendary jazz festival in history," McBride said. "To be able to work with a legend like George Wein, not only as a musician, but now as an understudy, is a task I will cherish and approach with openness and excitement. I'm also looking forward to working with consummate producers Danny Melnick and Jay Sweet as well as with the entire festival team."

Wein also announced the promotion of Danny Melnick to producer from associate producer. Melnick is a 25-year veteran of Wein's organization, which also produces the Newport Folk Festival.

Wein said that the Foundation's Board of Directors and himself "feel that the festival is in good hands and these two music mavericks are more than capable to sustain the festival for decades to come."

McBridge will work on strategic planning with Wein and Melnick and will take the reins for the 2017 Newport Jazz Festival.

McBride, a Julliard classical music student was born in Philadelphia in 1972 and "reigns supreme as the most accomplished, influential and ubiquitous bassist of his generation," according to a Newport Festivals Foundation press release. "Soon after he enrolled in Juilliard, McBride hit the road as a member of Bobby Watson’s Horizon and the rest is jazz history. He has performed on more than 300 recordings as a sideman with everybody from Pat Metheny, Chick Corea and Wynton Marsalis, and Sting to The Roots, Bruce Hornsby and Paul McCartney. He’s also recorded 12 critically-acclaimed CDs as a leader with his quintet, Inside Straight, his big band and his trio. Live at the Village Vanguard earned him a 2015 Grammy Award (his fifth) for Best Improvised Jazz Solo for his rendition of the jazz standard, 'Cherokee.'”

"We're thrilled that Christian McBride has joined the Newport Festivals Foundation family," said Jay Sweet, the Foundation's Executive Producer. "He is not only a champion of jazz, but also a champion for jazz. In addition to the awards, performances at the White House, world-wide concert tours and radio shows, Christian's dedication to music education, his knowledge of our festivals’ history and his passion to help the music live on are why I’m excited to have him as part of our team."

McBridge also hosts a program on SiriusXM satellite radio, "The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian" and National Public Radio's weekly "Jazz Night in America."

He and his wife, vocalist and educator Melissa Walker, have dedicated themselves to teaching children through jazz. Walker is the founder of Jazz House Kids, a jazz school in New Jersey.

The 2016 Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management takes place July 29-31 at historic Fort Adams State Park and the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino. Artists include Chick Corea Trilogy with Christian McBride and Brian Blade; Norah Jones; Gregory Porter; Angélique Kidjo; Kamasi Washington; John Scofield/Joe Lovano Quartet; Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society; Charles Lloyd New Quartet; Robert Glasper Experiment; Nels Cline; Lizz Wright; Tierney Sutton; Django Festival All Stars; Kenny Barron Trio; Donny McCaslin; Yosvany Terry Quintet; Toshiko Akiyoshi; Steve Coleman and Five Elements; Galactic; Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah; José James; Kneebody; The Hot Sardines; Anat Cohen and many others. For more information and tickets, visit www.newportjazzfest.org.

Photo courtesy: Newport Festivals Foundation