Christian McBride Resigns as Newport Jazz Festival Artistic Director

Christian McBride, photo by Evelyn Freja

The Newport Festivals Foundation has announced Christian McBride’s resignation as Artistic Director of the Newport Jazz Festival. McBride, the nine-time Grammy-winning bassist and composer, has served as the key voice in curation for the standard-bearing originator of all American musical festivals since 2015, when he was personally appointed by festival founder George Wein.

“It has been a tremendous honor to serve as Artistic Director of the Newport Jazz Festival,” McBride shared. “When George invited me to take the baton, I did so with deep pride and a sense of duty to continue the extraordinary legacy he built—celebrating jazz’s past, present, and future.” 

In his decade at the helm, McBride carried on the Newport Jazz Festival’s legacy of musical excellence while championing new perspectives that have guaranteed its future. His presentations have shown the changing shape of America’s classical music to consecutive sellout crowds, while sharing the Newport Festivals Foundation’s commitment to music education, artist relief initiatives and the revitalization of tradition.

“The Newport Festivals Foundation and our Newport Jazz Festival have been fortunate to be blessed with Christian McBride’s unmatched virtuosity, creative curiosity, and magnanimity as both a person and an artist,” the organization expressed. “His deep respect in the jazz community created immeasurable goodwill for our festival and nonprofit mission. Christian has helped foster a community filled with engagement, collaboration, and joy. He is leaving us changed for the better, and we will do our best to carry on his indelible legacy.” 

“As with any long-standing institution, artistic perspectives evolve over time,” McBride continued. “As the festival continues to grow and shift, I’ve come to recognize that my vision is best pursued in other ways. I step away with deep gratitude for the experience and pride in what we’ve built together. Every festival season has been a joy, and I’ll always cherish the moments we created together at Fort Adams. Newport will always be a part of me.” 

McBride’s tenure as Artistic Director will come to a close with George Wein’s Centennial Celebration, staging at New York’s City Winery on Oct. 7, for which he will serve as host and musical director. McBride’s successor has not yet been announced.

Learn more about the Newport Festivals Foundation at newportfestivals.org. Read McBride’s lineup for Newport Jazz Festival’s 71st annual presentation here.