Christian McBride will perform with an exciting new ensemble – Ursa Major, four Master Instrumentalists – Saxophonist Nicole Glover, Guitarist Ely Perlman, Pianist Mike King, and Drummer Savannah Harris 

 

 St. Cecilia Music Center (SCMC) is excited to bring back the Multi-Grammy Award winning jazz artist Christian McBride to the Royce Auditorium Stage on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. McBride will be joined on stage by four outstanding young rising master musicians in his new group Ursa Major: Saxophonist Nicole Glover, Guitarist Ely Perlman, Pianist Mike King, and Drummer Savannah Harris. 

 

Christian McBride, an award-winning jazz bassist, composer and bandleader, is a respected educator and advocate for youth. He serves as the Artistic Director of Jazz House KiDS and the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Summer Sessions. He is also the Artistic Director of many other organizations including the historic Newport Jazz Festival, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), the TD James Moody Jazz Festival, and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. From jazz to R&B, and pop/rock and hip-hop/neo soul to classical, Christian McBride is a luminary with one hand ever reaching new heights, and the other extended in fellowship.

 

Executive & Artistic Director of SCMC Cathy Holbrook says, “We are thrilled to have the wonderful Christian McBride back on the Royce Auditorium Stage on the final Spectacular Jazz Series concert this season. Not only will we witness his amazing compositions and jazz brilliance, but we are also very excited to see him perform with his newest ensemble – Ursa Major – four stellar young jazz artists making their way on the world stage!”  

 

Tickets for Christian McBride and Ursa Major are $70, $55, and $40 at scmcgr.org or by calling 616-459-2224. (Single tickets have a $4.00 per ticket fee.)

 

Christian McBride & Ursa Major Bio:

Christian McBride is an eight-time GRAMMY-winning bassist, composer, and bandleader. He is the Artistic Director of the historic Newport Jazz Festival, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the TD James Moody Jazz Festival, and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. McBride is also a respected educator and advocate for youth and serves as Artistic Director of Jazz House KiDS and the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Summer Sessions. In addition to artistic directing and consistent touring with his ensembles, he hosts NPR’s “Jazz Night in America” and “The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian” on SiriusXM. Whether behind the bass or away from it, Christian McBride is always part of the music. From jazz to R&B, and pop/rock and hip-hop/neo soul to classical, he is a luminary with one hand ever reaching new heights, and the other extended in fellowship—and perhaps the hint of a challenge—inviting us to join him. For this show he is joined by four rising young master instrumentalists including saxophonist Nicole Glover, guitarist Ely Perlman, pianist Mike King, and drummer Savannah Harris. 

 

Michael King – Keys

Pianist Michael King, a Chicago native, began playing drums in his local church band at the age of 4. This fortuitously melodic schooling nurtured an undeniable affinity to the piano and organ, the seat that he began to occupy, playing by ear at age 14. Michael King is an alumnus of Lincoln Park High School and the prestigious Oberlin Conservatory. He was selected to attend the Thelonious Monk Institute and The Ravinia Jazz Scholars program on merit scholarships. Michael has performed with Bobby Watson, Kevin Eubanks, Dave Liebeman, Gary Bartz, Billy Hart, Joel Frahm, Rufus Reid, and Antonio Hart, among others. Currently Michael King is touring internationally with DeeDee Bridgewater, Robin Eubanks, Theo Croker’s DVRKFUNK, Soul Understated, and Marcus Print up. 

 

Savannah Harris – Drums

Savannah Harris is a New York City-based drummer, composer and producer. Raised in Oakland, California by musician parents, she gravitated towards the drums at age 2. Steeped in a jazz tradition, Savannah views its connection to all forms of diasporic and folklore music as central to her approach. She’s performed and recorded with indie and experimental artists Helado Negro, Georgia Anne Muldrow, KeiyaA and others. Her jazz recordings include releases from Peter Evans, Maria Grand, and Or Bareket. She’s performed with Geri Allen, Jason Moran, Terrence Blanchard and many others. Presently, she tours extensively with Christian McBride, Cecile McLorin Salvant, and Kenny Barron. In 2019, Savannah was awarded the Harlem Stage Emerging Artist Award. She received her master’s in jazz performance from Manhattan School of Music. 

 

Nicole Glover – Saxophone

Saxophonist, bandleader, composer, and educator Nicole Glover is based in New York City and has established herself as a rising star and musician in great demand. Her most recent solo recording is Strange Lands (Savant), with the venerable pianist George Cables. The London Times awarded the album 4 stars, and it remained near the top of the Jazzweek radio charts for 11 weeks. Nicole is also an integral member of the supergroup ARTEMIS, led by pianist Renee Rosne. Currently, Nicole is a member of a new quintet led by bassist Christian McBride, and she often performs with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center. She has worked with drummers Al Foster and Kenny Washington and GRAMMY-award winning vocalists Dee Dee Bridgewater and Buika, as well as other artists. An experienced educator, Nicole is on the faculty at Princeton University, Manhattan School of Music, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. 

 

Ely Perlman – Guitar

Ely Perlman is a guitarist, composer, and producer from Tel Aviv, Israel. He received his early musical education at the esteemed Jazz Department of the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts, graduating with honors, and at the Center of Jazz Studies at the Israel Conservatory of Music in Tel Aviv. He is now a third-year student at the Berklee College of Music and is a member of Christian McBride’s newest band. In addition to collaborating with other acclaimed artists such as Shai Maestro and Ben Wendel, Ely leads multiple musical projects including a jazz quartet highlighting his compositional vision and indie band called SWIMS. Ely released “All We Got” in 2022, his first single as a singer/songwriter, and is currently working on his debut album. 

 

Tickets are available online at www.scmcgr.org or by calling 616-459-2224. Contact the Box Office Manager at tickets@scmcgr.org or 616-459-2224 x201 with questions. Tickets have a $4.00 per ticket fee. All concerts start at 7:30pm.  

 

Spectacular Jazz Series Tickets

   Christian McBride & Ursa Major

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

A section $70

B section $55

C section $40