Jazz fans: Not to sound like a broken record, but it’s not enough to chill out to your Charlie Parker albums at home. Living, breathing jazz artists need your support. And few of them are as imaginative or engaging as bassist Christian McBride, who begins a four-night stint at Jazz at the Bistro next Wednesday fronting his band, Inside Straight.

McBride has played alongside just about every major jazz artist of his generation, including saxophonist Joshua Redman and pianist Brad Mehldau (the three, along with drummer Brian Blade, recorded Redman’s terrific 1994 album, “MoodSwing”). McBride is touring in support of his latest disc, “Kind of Brown” - a straight-ahead effort that’s as strong as anything he’s done.

Performances are at 8:30 and 10:15 p.m. Wednesday through Nov. 21 at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Boulevard. Tickets are $30-$35. For more information, call 314-534-1111 or 314-289-4030.