Sci-Fi

1	Aja 6:49
2	Uhura's Moment Returned 6:20
3	Xerxes 7:59
4	Lullaby for a Ladybug 7:30
5	Science Fiction 6:52
6	Walking on the Moon 6:43
7	Havona 7:13
8	I Guess I'll Have to Forget 6:11
9	Butterfly Dreams 6:44
10	Via Mwandishi 8:05
11	The Sci-Fi Outro 1:14

Barnes & Noble

At 28 years old, the bassist Christian McBride, who has startled audiences with his stunning blend of technique and imagination since he hit the scene in 1989, is growing ever more steadily into his voice, one which incorporates both the acoustic and electric textures of his instrument without cliche. On Sci-Fi, a paean to '70s glories, McBride presents six original compositions and four arrangements ("Aja" and "Walking on the Moon" by Pop icons Steely Dan and Sting, and "Havona" and "Butterfly Dreams" by ur-electric bassists Jaco Pastorius and Stanley Clarke) that keep present concerns clearly in focus, deploying older notions to fuel new perspectives. Pianist Herbie Hancock adds heft to the proceedings with lucid comping and imaginative solos that stand with his strongest recorded work, on "Xerxes" (McBride rises to the task with a stunning upright solo that can stand as commentary and variation) and "Lullaby for a Ladybug" (a probing dialogue on a sweet melody with Dianne Reeves). On "Via Mwandishi," McBride's tribute to Hancock's seminal '70s sextet, James Carter roars on the bass clarinet with zest and power, while he's also the passionate soul man over David Gilmore's lilting acoustic guitar on "Walking on the Moon." Gilmore's textural skronk propels Ron Blake's consonant soprano sax flight on "Science Fiction." Indeed, all of McBride's working unit are top-shelf throughout a breakthrough session in which McBride ties together in a solid knot threads he's hinted at unifying on previous albums. Ted Panken

All Music Guide

On a large scale, there is no denying that music can move masses of people to assert themselves and establish a particular vision that will benefit many for years to come. With the release of Sci-Fi, the highly acclaimed bassist Christian McBride has established another great realm of music for his fans to explore. Accompanied by the dynamic Ron Blake on tenor and soprano sax, Shedrick Mitchell on piano and Fender Rhodes, the great Herbie Hancock on piano, Rodney Green on drums, David Gilmore on electric and acoustic guitar, Dianne Reeves giving great vocalese on "Lullaby for a Ladybug," James Carter on bass clarinet, and the exciting Toots Thielemans on harmonica, listeners will soon discover that the jazz galaxy will never be the same. The acoustic fusion and thematic sound concept for the CD settled in after McBride wrote "Science Fiction" and discovered it made a great nucleus for the CD. Featured selections include McBride's brilliant arrangements of masterworks by Stanley Clarke, Sting, Jaco Pastorius, and Steely Dan as well as seven original compositions by the versatile leader. Flawless piano grace from Herbie Hancock on "Xerxes" and "Lullaby for a Ladybug" and McBride's Fender Rhodes work throughout is a listen to behold. Particularly, the conversation between McBride's double bass and Carter's bass clarinet on "Walking on the Moon" shouldn't be missed. Sci-Fi is a seminal work by seminal artists and may very well be considered one of the most essential jazz recordings of the 21st century. Paula Edelstein