Christopher McBride Charts a Bold New Chapter with The Hang, The Hustle, The Path

Out October 3rd, the saxophonist’s third studio album is a deeply personal, genre-blending journey—and he’s hitting four major cities with The Whole Proof to bring it to life.

Saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Christopher McBride is back with a powerful new project, The Hang, The Hustle, The Path—a vibrant and deeply personal album dropping October 3 via CR McBride Music. As the first installment of a planned trilogy, the release dives headfirst into McBride’s life story through a sonic tapestry of bebop, gospel, R&B, Latin, hip-hop, and more.

To celebrate the release, McBride and his band, The Whole Proof, are taking the show on the road with performances in Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York City.

Recorded in just three days at a Brooklyn studio, the album opens with “Welcome (#AllDay),” where McBride introduces his bandmates—Jon Thomas (piano), Barry Stephenson (bass), and Michael Piolet (drums)—before leading listeners through a tracklist that reflects the people, places, and pivotal moments that have shaped his life.

Each track on The Hang, The Hustle, The Path carries emotional weight and musical significance:

• “Opportunity Lost” races with frenetic bebop energy, expressing the tension of missed life moments.

• “CHI to NY” bridges McBride’s hometown and adopted city with a head-bobbing hip-hop swing he wrote while driving a U-Haul during his move.

• “Punta Cana” offers a breezy, Latin-infused reprieve, born from a rare moment of musical silence while vacationing.

• “A Downpour of Beauty”, a smooth, romantic ballad featuring vocalist Charles Turner, is McBride’s first lyrical composition—dedicated to his fiancée, Chantel.

• “Jeanette” is a tender tribute to an aunt he met only briefly before her passing.

• “Seven (The Human Cost)” delivers a haunting meditation inspired by a chilling fact from the National Museum of African American History and Culture—that enslaved people’s bodies typically broke down after just seven years of forced labor.

The album isn’t afraid to have fun either. “Funky Good Señor Blues” captures a backyard party vibe, while “Saxophone at Night” delivers a danceable swing groove—check out the line-dance-ready video here.

Meanwhile, “The #BAM Continuum (for NP)” brings in DJ Skaz Digga to blend hip-hop and jazz in real time, showcasing McBride’s seamless genre fluidity and his ongoing work with The Jazz Continuum.

McBride explains the album’s title as a reflection of life’s connections, transformations, and divergences.

“You bond with people through the hang and the hustle—but the path we walk isn’t always the same,” he says. “This album is a reflection of my journey—where I’ve been, what I’ve seen, and where I hope to go.”

That path has taken McBride from Chicago to New York City, from church stages to international jazz festivals, and through collaborations with legends like Roy Hargrove, Talib Kweli, Solange, and Jennifer Hudson. His last album, Ramon, earned critical acclaim and climbed into the JazzWeek Top 25.

Tour Dates

Catch McBride and The Whole Proof live this October:

• Chicago: Jazz Showcase, Oct 2–5

• Los Angeles: Sam First, Oct 9

• Atlanta: Eddie’s Attic, Oct 12

• New York City: Red Rooster, Oct 14

Beyond performing, McBride wears many hats. He’s been Director of Education at Second Line Arts Collective in New Orleans, a teaching artist with Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Music Director for The Jazz Continuum and The Soapbox Presents: The Stoop Sessions in Harlem.

As a composer, he was the 2022 Make Jazz Fellow at 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica—a role that further solidified his voice as one of the most versatile and fearless artists in contemporary jazz.

Track Listing:

1. Welcome (#AllDay)

2. Opportunity Lost (feat. Josh Evans)

3. CHI to NY (feat. Wayne Tucker)

4. Punta Cana

5. A Downpour of Beauty (Ceta’s Song) (feat. Charles Turner & Marcus Machado)

6. Funky Good Señor Blues (feat. Josh Evans)

7. You Are My Joy

8. Seven (The Human Cost) (feat. Josh Evans)

9. Saxophone at Night

10. Jeanette

11. Kiss of Life (feat. J. Hoard)

12. The #BAM Continuum (for NP) (feat. DJ Skaz Digga)

13. The Hang, The Hustle, The Path

The Hang, The Hustle, The Path isn’t just an album—it’s an invitation into Christopher McBride’s world. Honest, bold, and genre-fluid, it’s a jazz record with both deep roots and adventurous branches. Whether you're a longtime listener or new to his music, this project marks a pivotal chapter in an artist carving his own lane with integrity, creativity, and soul.