Bassist Christian McBride [ tickets ] was one of the last "young lions" to graduate to bandleader status during jazz's last growth spurt in the early 1990s. Over the course of nine albums and 15 years as a frontman, he has delivered a series of projects that have a minimal relationship to one another, his latest being a stellar return to all acoustic instruments, but bearing little relation to his mid-'90s acoustic recordings for Verve.

"Kind of Brown," his first album for Mack Avenue, is a program of 10 groove-oriented tunes, among the beefiest compositions of his career. At first listen, "Brown" has the appearance of being the most complete album in McBride's catalog; considering composition quality, performance and sound quality, it's his finest effort.

Muscular playing from the saxophonist Steve Wilson and vibraphonist Warren Wolf Jr. dominate the disc, providing little sense that the leader is in the rhythm section putting the music into overdrive with drummer Carl Allen. (McBride does take a few flavorful and melodic solos). Pianist Eric Scott Reed provides the lightness needed to cut through the density of the music.

The influence of the hard-bop movement, territory dominated by the likes of Les McCann, Cannonball Adderley and Horace Silver, is spread throughout "Kind of Brown," especially on the album's magical, groove-driven opener "Brother Mister." But by no means is the album limited to that era. The performance approach of "Rainbow Wheel" is that of the classic Coltrane quartet from the early 1960s; "Uncle James" has the DNA of a Pat Metheny composition; "Theme for Kareem" pays tribute to the late Freddie Hubbard, who hired McBride at the age of 17; and the solemn "Where are You?" finds McBride demonstrating a warm bowing style.

"Starbeam" and "Uncle James," mid-tempo ballads, have an engaging simplicity in their themes, yet provide an ample platform for the musicians to leap off. McBride, whose career has included vast amounts of studio work and more than two years (2001-2003) as Sting's bassist, has separated himself from the pack by offering melodic accessibility in all of his projects. The rare musician whose best concerts are a coherent journey from the golden age of jazz to the modern era, "Kind of Brown" reinforces McBride's holistic approach to modern instrumental music.