While attending a show at the Village Vanguard in 2006, it occurred to Christian McBride that he hadn’t played there in nearly 9 years, as he’d been touring the world. In June of 2007, Christian returned to the Village Vanguard with a group consisting of Steve Wilson, Eric Reed, Carl Allen and a young vibraphonist whom he’d recently met, Warren Wolf. Due to prior commitments, Eric Reed could no longer be in the group, but pianist Peter Martin joined the group immediately upon the release of Christian McBride & Inside Straight’s first Mack Avenue recording, Kind of Brown, and Peter’s been in the piano chair ever since. The Village Vanguard has been Christian McBride and Inside Straight’s home for one to two weeks every December. Although many iterations of his groups have played there, Inside Straight was birthed at the Village Vanguard. This particular set was recorded in December of 2014, titled Live at the Village Vanguard.

REVIEW:

Vibraphonist Warren Wolf's infectiously soulful "Sweet Bread" sets a very high bar straight from the gate. But it's a bar that Inside Straight hurtles high over with each successive track. "Sweet Bread" swings for the fences and the fences swing back on McBride's own swing-crazy "Fair Hope Theme." Pianist Peter Martin's joyful, sinewy run on saxophonist Steve Wilson's "Ms. Angelou" is worth the price of admission and the two drink minimum. Carl Allen conjures Art Blakey and this set never stops. The energy and vibe is so tangible on "Shade of the Cedar Tree" that it's impossible not to imagine yourself inside the Vanguard itself.

By the time "Stick and Move" steamrolls over you, and McBride and Allen take your breath away in a serious of groove statements that leave you amazed, you can envision yourself one of the jubilant patrons, standing, cheering, applauding.

--AllAboutJazz.com (Mike Jurkovic)