REVIEW: Christian McBride with Ursa Major
3/19 @ The Egg in Albany
Photos by Joe Putrock
“It felt like they were meant to be up there; Watching everyone completely in their element, doing what they love, doing what you can tell they were born to do.”
When you have nine Grammys to your name, a little ego wouldn’t be shocking. But renowned jazz bassist, composer, and arranger Christian McBride doesn’t show even a hint of it. He’s the kind of musician who could absolutely dominate the stage if he wanted, but instead, he lifts everyone up. The way he plays is effortlessly cool, shredding on the bass without ever overpowering the band, and laying down a solid foundation for every musician around him to shine.
And shine they did.
Backing McBride was Ursa Major, a lineup of killer musicians. Nicole Glover was on sax, playing like she had something to prove (she didn’t, she’s already that good). Ely Perlman on guitar was completely lost in the music; every note was written all over his face. James Francies on keys honestly might be some kind of wizard, and Savannah Harris on drums proved over and over again with every song that she’s an absolute beast.
These musicians might be young, but they played with the kind of skill, confidence, and soul that felt like they had decades of experience. There wasn’t a weak link in the mix, every single player brought their own thing to the table, and the chemistry between them was truly something else.
The setlist was stacked, but a few songs completely took over my brain: “More Is,” composed by Harris, “Familiar Steps,” composed by McBride, and “Elevation,” composed by Perlman.
When McBride revealed that these pieces were written by the very musicians performing them, the entire room was in shock. Every artist on that stage isn’t just a phenomenal player, they’re musicians on another level.
From the moment the first note of the night hit, I was gone. This is what live jazz is supposed to feel like; completely immersive, like nothing else in the world exists except the music in front of you. It wasn’t just technical skill, it was passion, storytelling, and a kind of intimacy between the musicians that made it feel like they weren’t just playing, they were talking to each other through sound.
Every song gave each musician their moment to step into the spotlight, and watching them cheer each other on (literally) while their bandmates soloed, made it even better. There’s nothing like seeing a band that genuinely loves playing together, and where the energy isn’t just in the music, but in the way they exist on stage.
As for the individual moments? I could go on for hours.
Harris was unreal on the drums. She had such control and attention to detail. Every hit, every shift in rhythm was intentional. She didn’t just keep time, she really gave the music heart and made it look so effortless.
Francies had moments that straight up did not feel human. At one point, he was playing a grand piano with one hand and a keyboard with the other, as I sat there trying to process how. Watching him play felt like watching someone’s brain work in real-time; a nonstop flow of creativity.
Glover was an animal on the saxophone. She played like her life depended on it, completely wailing, pouring so much raw emotion into every note that you could see the music moving through her.
Watching Perlman play guitar was like watching someone in their true element. He was so locked in, you could see every note hit him before it even left his fingers.
McBride himself was having the time of his life. He radiated such joy and pride, like he knew exactly how good the band was, but still couldn’t help being excited about it. Between songs he’d chat with the audience, making it feel personal and as if he wasn’t just performing, he was fully present.
The moment of the night that really sealed the deal for me was Harris’s, “More Is.” It gave me this smooth, hypnotic Sade vibe, and I was so disgustingly into it. It’s the band’s only track on streaming right now–their album is coming soon, and I already know I’ll have it on repeat the second it drops.
Beyond the music, what really stuck with me was how much it felt like they were meant to be up there; watching everyone completely in their element, doing what they love, doing what you can tell they were born to do.
In all honesty, you just had to be there. If you ever get the chance to see Christian McBride and Ursa Major live, drop whatever the hell you’re doing and sprint to the box office. It’ll be one of the best choices you’ll ever make.