One of the most prominent jazz artists of his generation, bassist Christian McBride is best known for a number of successful recordings under his own name and as a sideman for Herbie Hancock, Diana Krall and most recently Chick Corea & John McLaughlin's Five Peace Band. Whilst McBride helmed an acoustic / electric quartet for some time, in 2007 he decided to create a new quintet that focused on playing straight-ahead acoustic jazz. The group made its debut at the Village Vanguard in New York and are now documented on his remarkable first recording for Mack Avenue. Produced by McBride, Kind Of Brown is a collection of hard swing-to-bluesy groove tunes that the leader says he put together to give the members of his new ensemble "something to sink their teeth into." He adds, "I wanted to present solid melodies with some decent chord changes that could be good vehicles for the guys to blow on." Personnel: Christian McBride (bass), Steve Wilson (saxophone), Eric Scott Reed (piano), Warren Wolf Jr. (vibraphone), Carl Allen (drums)