Number Two Express is the second studio album by the American jazz bassist Christian McBride. It was recorded in 1995 and released by Verve Records the following year.[4] The album peaked at #23 in the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.[5]
| Number Two Express | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 15 April 1996 | |||
| Recorded | 16–17 November 1995 | |||
| Studio | Clinton Recording Studios, NYC | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 63:52 | |||
| Label | Verve Records | |||
| Producer | Richard Seidel, Don Sickler | |||
| Christian McBride chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Tom Hull | B+[3] |
| Los Angeles Times | [2] |
Reception
editScott Yanow of AllMusic commented: "Continually interesting music which contains plenty of variety".[1] Bill Kohlhaase, of the Los Angeles Times, wrote: "Bass sensation Christian McBride has followed his well-received debut album, 'Gettin' to It,' with a surprisingly modern album that shows him moving ahead in taste and ambition. While the first album focused on soulful sounds and its leader's gutbucket pluck, the new disc plunges hard ahead with smarts, sizzle and fine interplay between celebrity players including pianists Chick Corea and Kenny Barron, saxophonists Gary Bartz and Kenny Garrett, vibist Steve Nelson and drummer Jack DeJohnette (playing with Corea for the first time since their Miles Davis days). Not only has McBride's material become more sophisticated, his improvisations have also progressed a notch. They're not so reliant on riffs and repetition."[2]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Whirling Dervish" | McBride | 8:22 |
| 2. | "Youthful Bliss" | McBride | 7:52 |
| 3. | "Tones for Joan's Bones" | Chick Corea | 6:43 |
| 4. | "EGAD" | McBride | 6:66 |
| 5. | "Miyako" | Wayne Shorter | 5:23 |
| 6. | "Divergence" | McBride | 9:21 |
| 7. | "Jayne" | Ornette Coleman | 5:05 |
| 8. | "Morning Story" | McBride | 4:51 |
| 9. | "Grove" | McBride | 6:11 |
| 10. | "Little Sunflower" | Freddie Hubbard | 3:58 |
| Total length: | 63:52 | ||
Personnel
editMusicians
edit- Christian McBride – Upright and Electric bass
- Kenny Barron – Piano
- Gary Bartz – Alto saxophone
- Mino Cinelu – Percussion
- Chick Corea – Piano
- Jack DeJohnette – Drums
- Kenny Garrett – Alto saxophone
- Steve Nelson – Vibes
Production
edit- Richard Seidel & Don Sickler – Production
- Jim Anderson – Recording
Chart performance
edit| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Jazz Albums (Billboard)[6] | 23 |
References
edit- ^ a b Yanow, Scott. "Christian McBride: Number Two Express". AllMusic. allmusic.com. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ a b KOHLHAASE, BILL (April 6, 1996). "McBride Rides a Smart, Sizzling 'Express' : CHRISTIAN McBRIDE: "Number Two Express" Verve (***)". The Los Angeles Times. latimes.com. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ "Tom Hull: Grade List: Christian McBride". Tom Hull. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ Dicaire, David (2006). Jazz Musicians, 1945 to the Present. McFarland. p. 263. ISBN 978-0-7864-2097-1. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "Number Two Express". Billboard. Retrieved 2 November 2018.[dead link]
- ^ "CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE: CHART HISTORY". Billboard. billboard.com. Retrieved 2 November 2018.[dead link]