The Questlove Show Questlove and Christian McBride on ‘Norah Jones Is Playing Along’
Jan 4, 2026
In a lively and nostalgic discussion, Questlove, a renowned drummer and music historian, and Christian McBride, a Grammy-winning jazz bassist, reminisce about their high school days with Norah Jones. They dive into the evolution of their musical styles, debate the best ways to amplify acoustic bass, and share funny backstage stories. The trio also perform covers of iconic songs, including D'Angelo's 'Betray My Heart' and Chris Christopherson's 'Border Lord', showcasing their deep musical bonds and shared experiences.
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High School Bond Over Funk
- Questlove and Christian McBride met at Philadelphia's Creative and Performing Arts high school and bonded over James Brown and funk.
- Their shared high-school jam sessions shaped their musical identities and lifelong camaraderie.
Weekly Gigs Build Musicianship
- Norah and Christian emphasize steady, low-stakes weekly gigs as vital musical training and practice.
- Those semi-paid residencies build repertoire, improvisation skills, and real-world experience.
Lost Bass, Found 'Minnie'
- Questlove recounts losing a prized Juzek-distributed bass to British Airways damage and then finding 'Minnie', a 1910 German bass.
- That instrument became his main upright after the airline-crushed bass couldn't be fully restored.