Five-Time Grammy Winner Christian McBride to Perform with Houston Chamber Choir, 5/22

The Houston Chamber Choir's 20th Anniversary season will reach its climactic finish in an evening of jazz with virtuoso bassist and five-time Grammy winner Christian McBride. The Christian McBride Trio including pianist Christian Sands, and drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr., will headline the concert where the centerpiece is a world premiere of McBride's groundbreaking work for jazz ensemble and choir. The concert takes place at the Cullen Theater in The Wortham Center on Sunday, May 22nd at 4:00pm.

Inspired by the works of Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck, McBride approached this piece by keeping in mind the talent and versatility of The Houston Chamber Choir. There are "three aspects of my musical personality well represented in this piece. It's a combination of my classical training, moving into jazz, with a tinge of gospel and soul," says McBride who wrote both music and text for "The Healing of the Sun," a work commissioned by Houston Chamber Choir for the occasion. This is the first time McBride has written a piece for choir and jazz ensemble, making this a turning point in his active compositional output.

Fresh off the heels of a White House appearance at International Jazz Day where he performed with Aretha Franklin and other jazz giants, and his fifth Grammy win in 2016, McBride's dynamic career as one of the world's leading jazz artists shows no signs of slowing down. "Make music that you want to make. Make music that is true to your heart and soul," says McBride.

"The deep, dark-maple tone that Christian McBride elicits from an upright bass is one of jazz's forthright pleasures" - Nate Chinen, The New York Times

Houston Chamber Choir, a professional choral organization founded by Artistic Director Robert Simpson twenty years ago, is delighted to join forces with a trailblazer of the jazz world in this momentous collaboration.

TICKETS: Purchase tickets online at www.HoustonChamberChoir.org, directly through the Wortham Center at http://tickets.houstonfirsttheaters.com, or by calling 832- 487-7041. Tickets start at $45.00. The Cullen Theater, Wortham Center is located at 501 Texas St.