The Good Feeling

A hallmark of this recording is its consistent energy, present from the opening track Shake 'n Blake. With its powerful trumpet section pronouncement, the band is telling the listener, "Here we are, ready to have some fun, and we're taking you along for the ride." But just as important is the band's understanding of nuance; it's McBride's arranging touch bringing out the best in its members, helping to create the tightly knit sound you hear throughout this recording. This project was truly a labor of love for McBride. But the process, as exhilarating as it was, also was an eye-opening experience for him. Spending a lot of time with talented arrangers and putting this project together has given him a great appreciation of everything that it takes, all the hard work, to achieve your goal on a project like this. He sought the advice of some of the most accomplished arrangers around, such as Jimmy Heath and John Clayton; and referenced material by the likes of Oliver Nelson, Duke Ellington, Thad Jones and Don Sebesky, among others.
But in the final analysis, every big band's unique sound and personality comes from its leader. The sound you hear on this recording has the unmistakable stamp and personality of Christian McBride. It is a larger-than-life sound, full of exuberance and power; but it also reminds you of the wonderful range of emotion and subtlety that such a large ensemble can offer.