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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Musical Shapeshifting Defines Style
- Questlove describes being a 'shapeshifter' musician who adopts different drummer styles depending on context.
- He distinguishes boutique, pulse, and foot-driven funk drumming approaches across James Brown's drummers.
Bring The Amp When Needed
- Carry an amp even if you prefer acoustic technique; it preserves employment and flexibility in gigs.
- Jeff 'Tane' Watts advised Questlove to 'get an amp' to save a job despite scene aesthetics.
Norah's Slow-Burn Rise
- Christian first heard Norah perform at McCourt and remembers tastemakers packed into an early show before her record release.
- Norah built an audience via a long residency at a Jewish community center before her debut album.