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{{Short description|American musician (born 1960)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
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Michael Manring was born in [[Annapolis]], Maryland,<ref name="Bass Heroes">Tom Mulhern, ''Bass Heroes: Styles, Stories & Secrets of 30 Great Bass Players : from the Pages of Guitar Player Magazine'', Backbeat Books, 1993, {{ISBN|0-87930-274-7}}, p.26</ref> as the youngest of four children. His family lived in [[Norfolk, Virginia]] and moved to the suburbs of [[Washington, D.C.]] in 1969. The Manrings were a very active family musically, providing a very fertile background for Michael's musical development. He and his brother Doug—a guitarist and drummer, later living a long time in Japan—formed a very active rhythm group while in high school, venturing through [[Jazz fusion|jazz rock]] and [[Jazz fusion|fusion]], playing rock classics at beer parties or pop standards in restaurants and at weddings.<ref>[http://www.dougmanring.com/bio.htm ''Doug Manring Bio'' at Doug Manrings website.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010224073525/http://www.dougmanring.com/bio.htm |date=February 24, 2001 }} Accessed on November 22, 2007.</ref>
Michael Manring was born in [[Annapolis]], Maryland,<ref name="Bass Heroes">Tom Mulhern, ''Bass Heroes: Styles, Stories & Secrets of 30 Great Bass Players : from the Pages of Guitar Player Magazine'', Backbeat Books, 1993, {{ISBN|0-87930-274-7}}, p.26</ref> as the youngest of four children. His family lived in [[Norfolk, Virginia]] and moved to the suburbs of [[Washington, D.C.]] in 1969. The Manrings were a very active family musically, providing a very fertile background for Michael's musical development. He and his brother Doug—a guitarist and drummer, later living a long time in Japan—formed a very active rhythm group while in high school, venturing through [[Jazz fusion|jazz rock]] and [[Jazz fusion|fusion]], playing rock classics at beer parties or pop standards in restaurants and at weddings.<ref>[http://www.dougmanring.com/bio.htm ''Doug Manring Bio'' at Doug Manrings website.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010224073525/http://www.dougmanring.com/bio.htm |date=February 24, 2001 }} Accessed on November 22, 2007.</ref>


Manring was a pupil of bassist Peter Princiotto from Spring Hill area, Virginia. He began to study at [[Berklee College of Music]] in [[Boston]], Massachusetts in the late 1970s, but canceled his studies in 1979 because of the heavy workload he already had, touring with several different bands like the Prog Rock band However.<ref name="AP-Interview">[http://www.innerviews.org/inner/manring.html ''MICHAEL MANRING . Beyond genres and niches'' by Anil Prasad.] Accessed on November 22, 2007.</ref> During his time at Berklee College he used every opportunity to play with very different musicians and bands. In the 1980s he studied and toured with [[Jaco Pastorius]] and began to develop his own style.<ref name="berklee">[http://www.berklee.edu/bt/141/alum_profile.html ''Alum Profile – Michael Manring '79'' at Berklee College.] Accessed on November 24, 2007.</ref>
Manring was a pupil of bassist Peter Princiotto from Spring Hill area, Virginia. He began to study at [[Berklee College of Music]] in [[Boston]], Massachusetts in the late 1970s, but canceled his studies in 1979 because of the heavy workload he already had, touring with several different bands like the prog rock band However.<ref name="AP-Interview">[http://www.innerviews.org/inner/manring.html ''MICHAEL MANRING . Beyond genres and niches'' by Anil Prasad.] Accessed on November 22, 2007.</ref> During his time at Berklee College he used every opportunity to play with very different musicians and bands. In the 1980s he studied and toured with [[Jaco Pastorius]] and began to develop his own style.<ref name="berklee">[http://www.berklee.edu/bt/141/alum_profile.html ''Alum Profile – Michael Manring '79'' at Berklee College.] Accessed on November 24, 2007.</ref>


In addition to a long tenure in the 1980s as house bassist for [[Windham Hill Records]], Manring has recorded with [[Spastic Ink]], [[Alex Skolnick]] (in the bands Skol-Patrol and Attention Deficit, also featuring [[Tim Alexander]] from [[Primus (band)|Primus]]), [[Larry Kassin]], [[Tom Darter]], [[Steve Morse]], [[David Cullen (Musician)|David Cullen]], [[Alex de Grassi]], [[Will Ackerman]] and many other noted musicians. He headlined his own band, [[Montreux (band)|Montreux]], throughout the 1980s. He has been a member of Yo Miles!, [[Henry Kaiser (musician)|Henry Kaiser]] and [[Wadada Leo Smith]]'s [[Miles Davis]] tribute band, since its inception. In 1994 Manring was polled ''Bassist of the Year'' by the readers of ''Bass Player'' magazine.<ref name="guthrie">[http://www.nomadland.com//MM041594.htm ''Michael Manring Interview'' by Matt Guthrie, April 15, 1994.] Accessed on November 21, 2007.</ref> Manring's name is also tied with that of [[fingerstyle]] guitarist [[Michael Hedges]], who was a dear friend and fellow musician. Manring toured extensively with Hedges and played on all Hedges albums except one.<ref name="guthrie" /> Manring is known as a humble and gracious live performer with a gift for improvisation with guest musicians.
In addition to a long tenure in the 1980s as house bassist for [[Windham Hill Records]], Manring has recorded with [[Spastic Ink]], [[Alex Skolnick]] (in the bands Skol-Patrol and Attention Deficit, also featuring [[Tim Alexander]] from [[Primus (band)|Primus]]), [[Larry Kassin]], [[Tom Darter]], [[Steve Morse]], [[David Cullen (Musician)|David Cullen]], [[Alex de Grassi]], [[Will Ackerman]] and many other noted musicians. He headlined his own band, [[Montreux (band)|Montreux]], throughout the 1980s. He has been a member of Yo Miles!, [[Henry Kaiser (musician)|Henry Kaiser]] and [[Wadada Leo Smith]]'s [[Miles Davis]] tribute band, since its inception. In 1994 Manring was polled ''Bassist of the Year'' by the readers of ''Bass Player'' magazine.<ref name="guthrie">[http://www.nomadland.com//MM041594.htm ''Michael Manring Interview'' by Matt Guthrie, April 15, 1994.] Accessed on November 21, 2007.</ref> Manring's name is also tied with that of [[fingerstyle]] guitarist [[Michael Hedges]], who was a dear friend and fellow musician. Manring toured extensively with Hedges and played on all Hedges albums except one.<ref name="guthrie" /> Manring is known as a humble and gracious live performer with a gift for improvisation with guest musicians.


Since 2005 Manring is member of the band [[DeMania]] with guitarist [[Alex de Grassi]] and percussionist Christopher Garcia. Manring remains active, touring the world for performances and clinics. He lives in [[Oakland, California]].<ref>[http://www.manthing.com/Manthing/Contact.html ''Michael Manring Contact Info'' at his website.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080111150621/http://www.manthing.com/contact.htm |date=January 11, 2008 }} Accessed on November 22, 2007.</ref> In 2020 he has collaborated with the Art of Peace global project, composed and arranged by Mehran Alirezaei.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asriran.com/fa/news/747800/%D9%87%D9%85%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D8%AA%E2%80%8C%D8%A2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D8%A7%D8%B1%DA%A9%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%AD|title = همکاری محمود دولت‌آبادی با یک ارکستر برای روایت صلح}}</ref><ref>http://artofpeace.international/</ref>
Since 2005 Manring is member of the band [[DeMania]] with guitarist [[Alex de Grassi]] and percussionist Christopher Garcia. Manring remains active, touring the world for performances and clinics. He lives in [[Oakland, California]].<ref>[http://www.manthing.com/Manthing/Contact.html ''Michael Manring Contact Info'' at his website.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080111150621/http://www.manthing.com/contact.htm |date=January 11, 2008 }} Accessed on November 22, 2007.</ref> In 2020 he has collaborated with the Art of Peace global project, composed and arranged by Mehran Alirezaei.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asriran.com/fa/news/747800/%D9%87%D9%85%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D8%AA%E2%80%8C%D8%A2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D8%A7%D8%B1%DA%A9%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%AD|title = همکاری محمود دولت‌آبادی با یک ارکستر برای روایت صلح}}</ref>


==Music and musical influences==
==Music and musical influences==
Because of his association with the Windham Hill label Manring often was seen as a [[New Age music]]ian. He doesn't see himself as belonging to a certain style or genre and often jokes about categorising his music. His album ''Thonk'' he termed for example "... the first New Age–[[Death metal]]–[[Fusion (music)|Fusion]]–album".<ref name="AP-Interview" />
Because of his association with the Windham Hill label Manring often was seen as a [[New Age music]]ian. He doesn't see himself as belonging to a certain style or genre and often jokes about categorizing his music. His album ''Thonk'' he termed for example "... the first new Age–[[death metal]]–[[Fusion (music)|fusion]]–album".<ref name="AP-Interview" />


Manring has a solid musical knowledge and uses the bass as a solo instrument usually in alternate tunings, with additional possibilities and patterns invoked on the fly with lever-activated de-tuners and bridges, somewhat like a [[pedal steel guitar]]. He wants to show that the electric bass can be used in a musically rich and expressive way.<ref name="AP-Interview"/> Manring occasionally plays on two (or even three or four) basses at the same time during live performances. Manring is also a composer of experimental music, mixing technology and fretless bass with the sounds of kitchen implements and cardboard boxes, evidenced on his "Book of Flame" solo album.
Manring has a solid musical knowledge and uses the bass as a solo instrument usually in alternate tunings, with additional possibilities and patterns invoked on the fly with lever-activated de-tuners and bridges, somewhat like a [[pedal steel guitar]]. He wants to show that the electric bass can be used in a musically rich and expressive way.<ref name="AP-Interview"/> Manring occasionally plays on two (or even three or four) basses at the same time during live performances. Manring is also a composer of experimental music, mixing technology and fretless bass with the sounds of kitchen implements and cardboard boxes, evidenced on his "Book of Flame" solo album.


He is a technical virtuoso, generally using his bass in very different ways. Mostly he plays a fretless bass, which gives him ample possibilities to change tone and pitch just like on acoustic bass. Manring is rhythmically very versatile and often uses [[polyrhythm]]s.<ref name="AP-Interview"/> He's said to do "... things on the electric bass that haven't been done before, are nearly impossible, and (are) illegal in most states.".<ref>[http://cdbaby.com/cd/manthing CD-Baby review of CD ''Soliloquy''.] Accessed on November 22, 2007.</ref> A unique technique employed by Manring is utilising Hipshot D tuners to change the tuning of one or more strings over the course of playing a piece.
He is a technical virtuoso, generally using his bass in very different ways. Mostly he plays a fretless bass, which gives him ample possibilities to change tone and pitch just like on acoustic bass. Manring is rhythmically very versatile and often uses [[polyrhythm]]s.<ref name="AP-Interview"/> He's said to do "... things on the electric bass that haven't been done before, are nearly impossible, and (are) illegal in most states.".<ref>[http://cdbaby.com/cd/manthing CD-Baby review of CD ''Soliloquy''.] Accessed on November 22, 2007.</ref> A unique technique employed by Manring is utilizing Hipshot D tuners to change the tuning of one or more strings over the course of playing a piece.


==Equipment==
==Equipment==
Manring plays a custom bass by [[Zon Guitars]], the so-called ''Zon Hyperbass'', a very flexible instrument, which was developed by Joseph Zon and Manring.<ref>[http://www.zonguitars.com/zonguitars/Hyperbass.html ''Hyperbass'', website of ''Zon Guitars''.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041110051622/http://www.zonguitars.com/zonguitars/hyperbass.html |date=November 10, 2004 }} Accessed on November 24, 2007.</ref> Special tuning pegs and a special bridge allow instantaneous tuning change of single strings as well as of all strings simultaneously by the action of several tiny levers, a system like that of the [[TransTrem]] guitar. The development of this special model was caused by Manring's use of open tunings. When Manring began changing tunings during pieces by turning the pegs while playing,<ref name="AP-Interview"/> he soon realised the limitations of this approach. First he tried to overcome these limitations by changing a normal Music Man Sting Ray Bass, but then began to develop the Hyperbass with Zon. The Hyperbass has Bartolini [[Pickup (music technology)|pickups]] for every string and four Fishman [[transducer]]s for the body signals of the instruments.
Manring plays a custom bass by [[Zon Guitars]], called the Hyperbass, a very flexible instrument, which was developed by Joseph Zon and Manring.<ref>[http://www.zonguitars.com/zonguitars/Hyperbass.html ''Hyperbass'', website of ''Zon Guitars''.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041110051622/http://www.zonguitars.com/zonguitars/hyperbass.html |date=November 10, 2004 }} Accessed on November 24, 2007.</ref> Special tuning pegs and a special bridge allow instantaneous tuning change of single strings as well as of all strings simultaneously by the action of several tiny levers, a system like that of the [[TransTrem]] guitar. The development of this special model was caused by Manring's use of open tunings. When Manring began changing tunings during pieces by turning the pegs while playing,<ref name="AP-Interview"/> he soon realized the limitations of this approach. First he tried to overcome these limitations by changing a normal Music Man Sting Ray Bass, but then began to develop the Hyperbass with Zon. The Hyperbass has Bartolini [[Pickup (music technology)|pickups]] for every string and four Fishman [[transducer]]s for the body signals of the instruments.


Apart from the Hyperbass, Manring uses a whole fleet of instruments. A listing at his website gives the following models:<ref>[http://www.manthing.com/tunings.htm Michael Manring's tunings] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119170221/http://www.manthing.com/tunings.htm |date=January 19, 2008 }}. Accessed on November 22, 2007.</ref>
Apart from the Hyperbass, Manring uses a whole fleet of instruments. A listing at his website gives the following models:<ref>[http://www.manthing.com/tunings.htm Michael Manring's tunings] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119170221/http://www.manthing.com/tunings.htm |date=January 19, 2008 }}. Accessed on November 22, 2007.</ref>


* Zon Legacy Elite Special fretless, aka "Bub"
* Zon Legacy Elite Special fretless, aka "Bub"
* Homemade Jazz Bass-style fretless
* Homemade Jazz Bass–style fretless
* Zon Michael Manring Hyperbass
* Zon Michael Manring Hyperbass
* Zon Custom Fretless, aka "Junior" or "Son of Bub"
* Zon Custom Fretless, aka "Junior" or "Son of Bub"
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==Discography==
==Discography==
===As leader===

===Solo===
* 1986 ''Unusual Weather'' ([[Windham Hill Records|Windham Hill]])
* 1986 ''Unusual Weather'' ([[Windham Hill Records|Windham Hill]])
* 1989 ''Toward the Center of the Night'' (Windham Hill)
* 1989 ''Toward the Center of the Night'' (Windham Hill)
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* 1995 ''Up Close 21'' (Windham Hill/High Street/Boston Acoustic)
* 1995 ''Up Close 21'' (Windham Hill/High Street/Boston Acoustic)
* 1998 ''The Book of Flame'' (Alchemy)
* 1998 ''The Book of Flame'' (Alchemy)
* 2005 ''Soliloquy'' (Manthing)<ref>[http://www.bsnpubs.com/aandm/windhamhill.html Windham Hill album discography.] Accessed on November 24, 2007.</ref>
* 2005 ''Soliloquy'' (Manthing)
* 2020 ''Small Moments'' (Manthing)<ref>[https://michaelmanring1.bandcamp.com/album/small-moments Small Moments Bandcamp page.] Accessed on May 10, 2020.</ref>
* 2020 ''Small Moments'' (Manthing)


===Collaborations===
===As guest===
'''With Michael Hedges'''
{{div col}}
; with Michael Hedges
* 1981 ''[[Breakfast in the Field]]'' (Windham Hill)
* 1981 ''[[Breakfast in the Field]]'' (Windham Hill)
* 1984 ''[[Aerial Boundaries]]'' (Windham Hill)
* 1984 ''[[Aerial Boundaries]]'' (Windham Hill)
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* 1996 ''[[Oracle (Michael Hedges album)|Oracle]]'' (Windham Hill)
* 1996 ''[[Oracle (Michael Hedges album)|Oracle]]'' (Windham Hill)
* 1999 ''[[Torched (Michael Hedges album)|Torched]]'' (Windham Hill)
* 1999 ''[[Torched (Michael Hedges album)|Torched]]'' (Windham Hill)
* 2000 ''Michael Hedges – The Best of Michael Hedges'' (Windham Hill)
* 2001 ''Beyond Boundaries – Guitar Solos'' (Windham Hill)
* 2001 ''Beyond Boundaries – Guitar Solos'' (Windham Hill)
* 2003 ''Platinum & Gold Collection'' ([[RCA Victor]])
* 2006 ''Pure Michael Hedges'' (RCA)


'''With [[Montreux (band)|Montreux]]'''
; with Calum Graham
* 2016 ''Farewell'' (Studio AD/TL Studios)

; with Danny Heines
* 2001 ''What Worlds They Bring'' (Vadadisc)

; with Alex Skolnick
* 1997 ''The Skol-Patrol'' (Pluto-Bound)

; with Montreux
* 1985 ''Chiaroscuro'' (Windham Hill)
* 1985 ''Chiaroscuro'' (Windham Hill)
* 1987 ''Sign Language'' (Windham Hill)
* 1987 ''Sign Language'' (Windham Hill)
* 1989 ''Let Them Say'' (Windham Hill)
* 1989 ''Let Them Say'' (Windham Hill)


'''With [[John Gorka]]'''
; with Jim Stinnett and [[Grant Stinnett]]
* 2008 ''Project M'' (Stinnett)
* 2009 ''Dance of the Bottom Feeders'' (Stinnett)
* 2011 ''Welcome to Our Clef'' (Stinnett)
* 2012 ''Convergencia'' (Stinnett)

; with John Gorka
* 1991 ''Jack's Crows'' (High Street)
* 1991 ''Jack's Crows'' (High Street)
* 1992 ''Temporary Road'' (High Street)
* 1992 ''Temporary Road'' (High Street)
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* 2006 ''Writing in the Margins'' (Red House)
* 2006 ''Writing in the Margins'' (Red House)


'''With others'''
; with Paolo Giordano
* 2005 [[At War With Self]], ''[[Torn Between Dimensions]]'' (Free Electric Sound)
* 1994 ''Paolo Giordano'' (Step Musique/New Sounds)
* 2013 [[Gianfranco Continenza]], ''Dusting the Time'' (Videoradio)
* 2000 ''Kid in a Toy Shop'' (Step Musique/New Sounds)
* 2019 Gianfranco Continenza, ''Vertical Horizons'' (Never Sleeping)
* 2001 [[David Cullen (musician)|David Cullen]]. ''Equilibré'' (Solid Air)
* 2016 [[Calum Graham]], ''Farewell'' (Studio AD/TL Studios)
* 2013 [[Kevin Kastning]], ''In Winter'' (Greydisc)
* 2008 [[Justin King (guitarist)|Justin King]], ''I-XII''
* 2011 [[Lukas Ligeti]], ''Pattern Time'' ([[Innova Records|Innova]])
* 2006 [[Jonni Lightfoot]], ''BLU'' (DreamAttik Productions)
* 2008 [[Jeff Loomis]], ''Zero Order Phase'' (Century Media)
* 1999 [[Jim Matheos]], ''Away with Words''
* 1997 [[Alex Skolnick]], ''The Skol-Patrol'' (Pluto-Bound)
* 2008 [[Terror Syndrome]], ''[[Terror Syndrome (album)|Terror Syndrome]]''
* 1995 [[Turtle Island Quartet]], ''By the Fireside'' (Windham Hill)


'''Other labels'''
; with Turtle Island String Quartet
* 1995 ''By the Fireside'' (Windham Hill)

; with Attention Deficit
* 1998 ''Attention Deficit'' (Magna Carta)
* 2001 ''The Idiot King'' (Magna Carta)

; with Jeff Loomis
* 2008 ''Zero Order Phase'' (Century Media)

; with Yo Miles
* 1998 ''Yo Miles!'' ([[Shanachie Records|Shanachie]])
* 2004 ''Sky Garden'' ([[Cuneiform Records|Cuneiform]])
* 2005 ''Upriver'' (Cuneiform)

; with Sadhappy
* 1998 ''Good Day Bad Dream'' (Periscope)
* 2005 ''Outerspaces'' (Periscope)

; with Norm Stockton
* 2009 Tea in the Typhoon (Stocktones)

; with Scott McGill and Vic Stevens
* 2001 ''Addition by Subtraction'' (Free Electric Sound)
* 2003 ''Controlled by Radar'' (Free Electric Sound)
* 2006 ''What We Do'' (Free Electric Sound)

; with Larry Kassin and Tom Darter
* 2001 ''Scatter'' (MKD Music)

; with David Cullen
* 2001 ''Equilibré'' (Solid Air)

; with Human Factor
* 2002 ''Human Factor'' (Human Factor)

; with [[Euro Groove Department]]
* 2005 ''[[Optical Illusion]]''

; with [[At War With Self]]
* 2005 ''[[Torn Between Dimensions]]'' (Free Electric Sound)

; with DeMania
* 2006 ''DeMania'' (Tropo)

; with Jonni Lightfoot
*2006 "BLU" (DreamAttik Productions)

; with Jeff Dodd
* 2007 ''Falling Awake'' (Aesthetic)

; with Jeff Titus
* 2007 ''Wood Dragon'' (Musician101 Music)
* 2011 ''What We Don't Know'' (Jeff Titus Music)

; with Brad Hoyt and Jeff Titus
* 2013 ''Restive Nocture'' (Harp Guitar Music)

; with [[Jim Matheos]]
* 1999 ''[[Away with Words (album)|Away with Words]]''

; with Yves Carbonne and Dominique Di Piazza
* 2005 ''Carbonne – Di Piazza – Manring''

; with [[Justin King (guitarist)|Justin King]] (as King West Manring Vamos)
* 2008 ''I-XII''

; with Cyril Achard
* 2008 ''A Place in Time''

; with Sándor Szabó
* 2010 ''Inner Smile'' (Indie Europe/Zoom)

; with Lukas Ligeti
* 2011 ''Pattern Time'' ([[Innova Records|Innova]])

; with [[Terror Syndrome]]
* 2008 ''[[Terror Syndrome (album)|Terror Syndrome]]''

; with [[Kevin Kastning]]
*2013 "In Winter" (Greydisc Records)

; with Shambhu
* 2010 "Sacred Love" (Acoustic Shine)
* 2016 "Soothe" (Acoustic Shine)

; with Marco Maggiore
* 2014 ''PassWords'' (M81Productions)

; with Tim Jordan Kirtan
* 2015 ''Heart and Spirit'' (Dharmapala Records<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/heart-spirit-mw0002830583/credits|title = Heart & Spirit - Tim Jordan Kirtan &#124; Credits &#124; AllMusic|website = [[AllMusic]]}}</ref>)

; with Vectrexcentricity
* 2016 ''Lifelike Boy Android'' (H(i)nds(i)ght)

; with [[Gianfranco Continenza]]
* 2013 ''Dusting the Time'' (Videoradio, VRCD 000844)
* 2019 ''Vertical Horizons'' (Never Sleeping Records, NS 001)
{{div col end}}

===Compilations===
{{div col}}
; Windham Hill
* 1982 ''An Evening with Windham Hill Live''
* 1985 ''Windham Hill – Winter''
* 1985 ''Windham Hill Sampler '86 ''
* 1985 ''Windham Hill Sampler '85''
* 1986 ''A Winter's Solstice II''
* 1989 ''Windham Hill Radio Sampler I''
* 1990 ''Windham Hill – The First Ten Years''
* 1990 ''A Winter's Solstice III''
* 1990 ''Restore the Shore''
* 1991 ''Windham Hill Sampler '92''
* 1991 ''Windham Hill Guitar Sampler II''
* 1993 ''A Winter's Solstice IV''
* 1995 ''Heal the Bay''
* 1996 ''Sanctuary – 20 Years of Windham Hill''
* 1996 ''Redbook Relaxers – Daybreak''
* 1996 ''Redbook Relaxers – Dreamscape''
* 1996 ''Carols of Christmas''
* 1997 ''Summer Solstice – A Windham Hill Collection''
* 1997 ''Redbook Relaxers – Lullabies''
* 1997 ''Redbook Relaxers – Dinner Party''
* 1997 ''Redbook Relaxers – Between Friends''
* 1997 ''Redbook Relaxers – After Hours''
* 1997 ''Redbook Relaxers – Piano Reflections''
* 1998 ''Thanksgiving – A Windham Hill Collection''
* 1998 ''Yoga Zone – Music for Yoga Practice''
* 1998 ''Conversations with God II''
* 1999 ''Sun Dance – Summer Solstice III''
* 2000 ''Windham Hill Classics – Morning''
* 2000 ''Windham Hill Classics – Journeys''
* 2000 ''Windham Hill Classics – Harvest''
* 2000 ''Windham Hill Classics – Angels''
* 2000 ''The Mozart Variations''
* 2002 ''Spirit of Life''
* 2003 ''Windham Hill Chill II''
* 2003 ''Prayer – A Windham Hill Collection''
* 2003 ''Adagio – A Windham Hill Collection''
* 2003 ''A Winter's Solstice V''
* 2003 ''A Windham Hill Wedding Album''
* 2004 ''Winter Wonderland – A Windham Hill Collection''
* 2004 ''Lullaby – A Windham Hill Collection''
* 2005 ''A Quiet Revolution – 30 Years of Windham Hill''
* 2005 ''Essential Winter's Solstice''
{{div col end}}
; BMG
* 1997 ''Twilight Jazz''
* 1997 ''Meditation – Revive''
* 1997 ''Candlelight Moments – Romantic Moments''
* 1997 ''Candlelight Moments – Meditative Moments''
* 1998 ''Moonlight Reflections''
* 1998 ''Quiet Moods – Romantic Reflections''
* 1998 ''Quiet Moods – Meditative Moments''
* 2000 ''New Age Christmas''
* 2000 ''Awake''
* 2000 ''Yoga – Energy''
* 2000 ''Yoga – Balance Energy and Strength''
* 2001 ''Meditation – Relax Restore and Revive''
* 2002 ''Meditation – Renew''
* 2002 ''Meditation – Relax''

; Other labels
* 1994 ''We Sing to Open Ears'' (High Street)
* 1994 ''We Sing to Open Ears'' (High Street)
* 1996 ''Different Mozart'' (Philips)
* 1996 ''Different Mozart'' (Philips)
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==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
<references />


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Official website|1=http://www.manthing.com}}
*{{Official website|1=http://www.manthing.com}}
*[http://www.talkbass.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=42 Ask Steve Lawson and Michael Manring] forum at TalkBass.com
* [http://www.talkbass.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=42 Ask Steve Lawson and Michael Manring] forum at TalkBass.com
*[http://www.solobassnight.com/ Solo Bass Night] A recurring Bay Area, California solo bass show featuring Michael Manring
* [http://www.solobassnight.com/ Solo Bass Night] A recurring Bay Area, California solo bass show featuring Michael Manring
*[http://www.peterprinciotto.com/ Official Peter Princiotto website]
* [http://www.peterprinciotto.com/ Official Peter Princiotto website]
*[http://www.liraproductions.com/dmg/index.htm – the official DEMANIA site]
* [http://www.liraproductions.com/dmg/index.htm – the official DEMANIA site]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110509051356/http://www.bass-musician-magazine.com/General/bass-musician-magazine-detail.asp?year=2009&month=8&article-id=717801051 Bassist Michael Manring, an Interview With Editor Jake Kot]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110509051356/http://www.bass-musician-magazine.com/General/bass-musician-magazine-detail.asp?year=2009&month=8&article-id=717801051 Bassist Michael Manring, an Interview With Editor Jake Kot]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110509051321/http://www.bass-musician-magazine.com/General/bass-musician-magazine-detail.asp?year=2009&month=8&article-id=517801237 Michael Manring: A Review of the May 2009 Portland OR Concert, 8/01/2009]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110509051321/http://www.bass-musician-magazine.com/General/bass-musician-magazine-detail.asp?year=2009&month=8&article-id=517801237 Michael Manring: A Review of the May 2009 Portland OR Concert, 8/01/2009]

*[http://fretlessbassguitarsite.com/2011/01/michael-manring-interview/ Michael Manring Interview with Blogger Tommy Landry, 2011]
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[[Category:New-age musicians]]
[[Category:American new-age musicians]]
[[Category:Chamber jazz bass guitarists]]
[[Category:Chamber jazz bass guitarists]]
[[Category:Berklee College of Music alumni]]
[[Category:Berklee College of Music alumni]]

Latest revision as of 05:44, 9 April 2024

Michael Manring
Michael Manring playing his Bass guitar
Michael Manring playing his Bass guitar
Background information
Born (1960-06-27) June 27, 1960 (age 64)
Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.
OriginWashington, D.C., United States
GenresJazz fusion, world music, new-age, experimental
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Bass guitar, keyboards
Years active1975–present
LabelsWindham Hill, High Street, Alchemy, Manthing
Websitewww.manthing.com

Michael Manring (born June 27, 1960) is an American bass guitarist from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Biography

[edit]

Michael Manring was born in Annapolis, Maryland,[1] as the youngest of four children. His family lived in Norfolk, Virginia and moved to the suburbs of Washington, D.C. in 1969. The Manrings were a very active family musically, providing a very fertile background for Michael's musical development. He and his brother Doug—a guitarist and drummer, later living a long time in Japan—formed a very active rhythm group while in high school, venturing through jazz rock and fusion, playing rock classics at beer parties or pop standards in restaurants and at weddings.[2]

Manring was a pupil of bassist Peter Princiotto from Spring Hill area, Virginia. He began to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts in the late 1970s, but canceled his studies in 1979 because of the heavy workload he already had, touring with several different bands like the prog rock band However.[3] During his time at Berklee College he used every opportunity to play with very different musicians and bands. In the 1980s he studied and toured with Jaco Pastorius and began to develop his own style.[4]

In addition to a long tenure in the 1980s as house bassist for Windham Hill Records, Manring has recorded with Spastic Ink, Alex Skolnick (in the bands Skol-Patrol and Attention Deficit, also featuring Tim Alexander from Primus), Larry Kassin, Tom Darter, Steve Morse, David Cullen, Alex de Grassi, Will Ackerman and many other noted musicians. He headlined his own band, Montreux, throughout the 1980s. He has been a member of Yo Miles!, Henry Kaiser and Wadada Leo Smith's Miles Davis tribute band, since its inception. In 1994 Manring was polled Bassist of the Year by the readers of Bass Player magazine.[5] Manring's name is also tied with that of fingerstyle guitarist Michael Hedges, who was a dear friend and fellow musician. Manring toured extensively with Hedges and played on all Hedges albums except one.[5] Manring is known as a humble and gracious live performer with a gift for improvisation with guest musicians.

Since 2005 Manring is member of the band DeMania with guitarist Alex de Grassi and percussionist Christopher Garcia. Manring remains active, touring the world for performances and clinics. He lives in Oakland, California.[6] In 2020 he has collaborated with the Art of Peace global project, composed and arranged by Mehran Alirezaei.[7]

Music and musical influences

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Because of his association with the Windham Hill label Manring often was seen as a New Age musician. He doesn't see himself as belonging to a certain style or genre and often jokes about categorizing his music. His album Thonk he termed for example "... the first new Age–death metal–fusion–album".[3]

Manring has a solid musical knowledge and uses the bass as a solo instrument usually in alternate tunings, with additional possibilities and patterns invoked on the fly with lever-activated de-tuners and bridges, somewhat like a pedal steel guitar. He wants to show that the electric bass can be used in a musically rich and expressive way.[3] Manring occasionally plays on two (or even three or four) basses at the same time during live performances. Manring is also a composer of experimental music, mixing technology and fretless bass with the sounds of kitchen implements and cardboard boxes, evidenced on his "Book of Flame" solo album.

He is a technical virtuoso, generally using his bass in very different ways. Mostly he plays a fretless bass, which gives him ample possibilities to change tone and pitch just like on acoustic bass. Manring is rhythmically very versatile and often uses polyrhythms.[3] He's said to do "... things on the electric bass that haven't been done before, are nearly impossible, and (are) illegal in most states.".[8] A unique technique employed by Manring is utilizing Hipshot D tuners to change the tuning of one or more strings over the course of playing a piece.

Equipment

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Manring plays a custom bass by Zon Guitars, called the Hyperbass, a very flexible instrument, which was developed by Joseph Zon and Manring.[9] Special tuning pegs and a special bridge allow instantaneous tuning change of single strings as well as of all strings simultaneously by the action of several tiny levers, a system like that of the TransTrem guitar. The development of this special model was caused by Manring's use of open tunings. When Manring began changing tunings during pieces by turning the pegs while playing,[3] he soon realized the limitations of this approach. First he tried to overcome these limitations by changing a normal Music Man Sting Ray Bass, but then began to develop the Hyperbass with Zon. The Hyperbass has Bartolini pickups for every string and four Fishman transducers for the body signals of the instruments.

Apart from the Hyperbass, Manring uses a whole fleet of instruments. A listing at his website gives the following models:[10]

  • Zon Legacy Elite Special fretless, aka "Bub"
  • Homemade Jazz Bass–style fretless
  • Zon Michael Manring Hyperbass
  • Zon Custom Fretless, aka "Junior" or "Son of Bub"
  • Larrivee 5-string fretless acoustic bass guitar
  • MusicMan Stingray fretless
  • Paroutaud Music Laboratories 5-string fretless Infinite Sustain prototype
  • PRS fretless
  • Riverhead Unicorn fretless
  • Riverhead Unicorn fretted bass
  • Zon prototype headless fretted bass, aka "Vinny"
  • Zon Legacy Elite 6-string fretless
  • Zon prototype Legacy 10-string bass (5 x 2).

Manring uses Markbass amplifiers and EBow/PlusBow.

Discography

[edit]

As leader

[edit]
  • 1986 Unusual Weather (Windham Hill)
  • 1989 Toward the Center of the Night (Windham Hill)
  • 1991 Drastic Measures (Windham Hill)
  • 1994 Thonk (High Street)
  • 1995 Up Close 21 (Windham Hill/High Street/Boston Acoustic)
  • 1998 The Book of Flame (Alchemy)
  • 2005 Soliloquy (Manthing)
  • 2020 Small Moments (Manthing)

As guest

[edit]

With Michael Hedges

With Montreux

  • 1985 Chiaroscuro (Windham Hill)
  • 1987 Sign Language (Windham Hill)
  • 1989 Let Them Say (Windham Hill)

With John Gorka

  • 1991 Jack's Crows (High Street)
  • 1992 Temporary Road (High Street)
  • 1994 Out of the Valley (High Street)
  • 1996 Between Five and Seven (High Street)
  • 1998 After Yesterday (Red House)
  • 2001 Company You Keep (Red House)
  • 2006 Writing in the Margins (Red House)

With others

Other labels

  • 1994 We Sing to Open Ears (High Street)
  • 1996 Different Mozart (Philips)
  • 1997 Heritage (Polygram )
  • 1997 A Very Green Christmas (Seventh Wave)
  • 1999 Moonlight Moments (Columbia River)
  • 1999 Soundscape – New Age Reflections (Delta/BMG)
  • 1999 Bass Talk, Vol. 6 (Hot Wire)
  • 1999 Bass Day '98 (Hudson Music)
  • 2000 Dreamscape (Delta)
  • 2003 Guitar Harvest I (Solid Air)
  • 2004 Healing Garden – The Art of Relaxation (Madacy)
  • 2005 Brazil Duets (Adventure Music)
  • 2006 Woodsongs: An Acoustic Guitar Collection (New Land Music)
  • 2010 The Quantum Activist Soundtrack (Bluedot Productions)

Video

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  • 1996 Bass Essentials (Hot Licks)
  • 1998 The Artist’s Profile: Michael Manring (Ecliptic productions)
  • 1998 Bass Day '98 (Hudson Music)
  • 2000 Michael Manring: Instructional Bass (Video, Hal Leonard)
  • 2008 Michael Manring: Resonances (DVD, Resonance Prod LLC/Michael Manring)
  • 2009 The Quantum Activist Documentary Soundtrack (Bluedot Productions)

References

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  1. ^ Tom Mulhern, Bass Heroes: Styles, Stories & Secrets of 30 Great Bass Players : from the Pages of Guitar Player Magazine, Backbeat Books, 1993, ISBN 0-87930-274-7, p.26
  2. ^ Doug Manring Bio at Doug Manrings website. Archived February 24, 2001, at the Wayback Machine Accessed on November 22, 2007.
  3. ^ a b c d e MICHAEL MANRING . Beyond genres and niches by Anil Prasad. Accessed on November 22, 2007.
  4. ^ Alum Profile – Michael Manring '79 at Berklee College. Accessed on November 24, 2007.
  5. ^ a b Michael Manring Interview by Matt Guthrie, April 15, 1994. Accessed on November 21, 2007.
  6. ^ Michael Manring Contact Info at his website. Archived January 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Accessed on November 22, 2007.
  7. ^ "همکاری محمود دولت‌آبادی با یک ارکستر برای روایت صلح".
  8. ^ CD-Baby review of CD Soliloquy. Accessed on November 22, 2007.
  9. ^ Hyperbass, website of Zon Guitars. Archived November 10, 2004, at the Wayback Machine Accessed on November 24, 2007.
  10. ^ Michael Manring's tunings Archived January 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Accessed on November 22, 2007.
[edit]
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