The tools are certainly there. I hope that we all collectively get together and make it happen.
Speaking of Chris Botti, what has it been like to be part of such a successful project, that being Chris’ most recent release To Love Again? You played bass on four tracks including, “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?” featuring Sting. What was it like to be reunited with them both on that project?
I hate to break your heart, but actually Sting over dubbed his part so I didn’t get to see him in the studio. But sonically, it was great to be reunited with those guys again. Chris has been a buddy of mine for a very, very long time. As a matter of fact, Chris was instrumental in getting me in Sting’s band five years ago. Chris and I were label mates at Verve in the mid-'90s and I just think that he is one of the greatest guys in the whole world. We have always had a good time together, a lot of laughs. The relationship that Chris and I have kind of reminds me of what Joey DeFranceso and I were like in high school. You know, just boys being boys.
I completely agree. Chris is definitely one of the most talented musicians currently in the industry; unpretentious and a genuinely nice individual. He truly deserves all the success that he has garnered.
It has been very interesting to watch Chris become like a whipping boy for certain members of what I call the “jazz defenders.” It is almost like the second someone becomes a star. They are now a problem. I watched it also happen with Diana Krall. How many singers have we seen who accompany themselves on the piano or play in little hotel bars and lobbies, and just kind of do their gigs every now and then? A lot of people!
But Diana, of course, had someone, Tommy LiPuma, who said, “Look I really, really like this girl. I’m going to make sure that Verve understands what they have here.” Tommy went to bat for Diana and you know, she has become kind of almost a household name. Whether or not you like how she sings or like her music, why is it that all of sudden, now she becomes like this whipping girl for this mentality of well… she has blonde hair and blue eyes and so that is why she is popular. You know Diana Krall sat down and studied and learned from the greats, just as much as some of the other cats have.
Article comments
1 - Michael J. West
AWESOME interview!
2 - Jon Sobel
What a great interview! I have even more admiration for Christian McBride than I already had.
3 - Katrina-Kasey
Wonderful to hear. I am glad that you both enjoyed reading it!