Jazz Beat: the Christian McBride Trio at the Folly Saturday

Some of the best-known performers in jazz today are bassists. Think Esperanza Spaulding. And think Christian McBride, who was a 17-year-old prodigy when he joined Bobby Watson’s ensemble in 1989. Since then, he has added more than 300 recordings and five Grammys to his resume. He has played with musicians ranging from Pat Metheny and Chick Corea to James Brown and Paul McCartney. He hosts jazz shows on NPR and SiriusXM as well as commenting on jazz for NPR news programs. All the while, his acoustic bass drives ensembles with energetic precision and unpredictable twists. Saturday night, McBride brings to the Folly Theater the trio from 2013’s Out Here and 2015’s Live at the Village Vanguard: pianist Christian Sands and drummer Ulysses Owens Jr.