Stew McKinsey
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| Stew McKinsey | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1967 |
| Genre(s) | Jazz Experimental Funk Fusion |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Bass guitar |
| Years active | 1980s,1990s,2000s |
| Label(s) | Multiple |
| Associated acts | Many |
| Website | www.subcontrabassist.com |
Stew McKinsey is an American jazz and funk bassist. He usually performs using Extended-range basses, (or "ERBs"), which are to electric bass guitars with more range (usually meaning more strings, but sometimes additional frets are added for more range) than the "standard" 4-string bass guitar. The techniques used to play the extended-range bass are closely related to those used for basses, including finger plucking, slapping, popping, and tapping, though a plectrum is very rarely used. The upper strings of an extended-range bass allow bassists to adopt playing styles of the electric guitar. One such style is the practice of "comping", or playing a rhythmic chordal accompaniment to an improvised solo.
[edit] Career
McKinsey studied flute and violin when he was very young. He also sang in choirs until adolescence. When he was in high school, he started playing electric bass and was playing with a band with his first month of practice. He later went to college and studied theory, harmony, and counterpoint. He also discovered more players and expanded his range of styles.
He then had access to Washington D.C.'s Blues Alley, where he saw many performers such as John McLaughlin, Herbie Mann, Tony Williams, Buddy Rich, Les McCann, and Jaco Pastorius. These artists inspired him to continue learning and playing music. He liked the extended range of 6-string basses, and started playing them, then 8-string basses, and eventually 10-string models. McKinsey went on to play, record, or perform live with musicians including Chad Wackerman, Al Caldwell, Jean Baudin, Bill "the Buddha" Dickens, and Yves Carbonne.
McKinsey's style is a blend of jazz, funk, rock, and experimental. His influences include Jaco Pastorius, John Paul Jones, Larry Graham, Percy Jones, Mark King, Louis Johnson, Mick Karn, Roberto Vally, Steuart Liebig, Chuck Rainey,and James Jamerson. McKinsey uses and endorses Conklin Guitars, Accugroove Bass Cabinets, Pigtronix 'Futuristic Analog Technology', and Bee Basses.
[edit] Selected discography
No Shock by Darien Brahms, 1986
No Time Like The Present by the Stretch, 1993
Jump in the Van by Urban Legend, 1999
Maximum Slickness & Slick Boots by Slick Willy, 2003
BOG Style by Brotherhood of Groove, 2004
