Christian McBride's 'The Movement Revisited'

Jazz Night In America's regular host, Christian McBride, happens to be a Grammy-winning bassist and composer, but he forbade us to feature him unless it was for something special. It so happens that he's written a special work: Teaming with choral director JD Steele, he's composed a bluesy and soulful oratorio for big band, gospel choir with soloists, and four speakers who represent great figures of the Civil Rights Movement. It's called The Movement Revisited, and is inspired by the written words and speeches of Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Jr., and President Barack Obama.

Jazz Night In America follows McBride around his own hometown of Philadelphia, as he speaks with the people who raised him at home and in the music, and features a performance of The Movement Revisited from the Kimmel Center in downtown Philly. NPR's Audie Cornish guest-hosts this episode, featuring the Christian McBride Big Band, the Philadelphia Heritage Chorale, and orators Sonia Sanchez, Rev. Alyn Waller, Dion Graham and Samuel Stricklen.

Personnel

The Christian McBride Big Band: Christian McBride, leader/bass; Nabate Isles, trumpet; Brandon Lee, trumpet; Frank Greene, trumpet; Benny Benack III, trumpet; Jeffery Miller, trombone; Steve Davis, trombone; Joseph McDonough, trombone; Douglas Purviance, bass trombone; Steve Wilson, alto sax; Ron Blake, tenor sax; Todd Bashore, alto sax; Dan Pratt, tenor sax; Lauren Sevian, baritone sax; Joel Ross, vibes; Geoffrey Keezer, piano; Terreon Gully, drums.

The Philadelphia Heritage Chorale: JD Steele, choral director/featured soloist; J. Donald Dumpson, musical director. With Waverly Alston Jr., Melvin Berrian, Eric Cook Jr., Andrew Lawson, Garrick V. Morgan, Tyree Miller, Cali Graver, Ja-Tun Reid, Kimberly Quarles, Shavonne Edwards, Tiffany Godette, A. China Guess, Carrie Walker Lessene, Hope McDowell, Tia McNeil, Tyrre Miller, Janine Momasso, Melanie Richardson, Lauren Robinson, Sue E. Spencer (featured in "Sister Rosa"), Maria Caldwell Stoddard, Cyrile Trawick, Monica Underwood, Philis E. Williams.

With Sonia Sanchez as Rosa Parks, Rev. Alyn Waller as Martin Luther King Jr., Dion Graham as Muhammad Ali, and Samuel Stricklen as Malcolm X.

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