Alexander McFadden, Vlad McFadden, Music
JazzBass (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Alexander Francis Anthony McFadden is an influential American jazz musician, composer and electric bass player. He is best known for his work with Philadelphia Trust as well as work with artists including Wilhelmina McFadden and his own solo projects.
His playing was known for his highly technical, cuban-influenced 16th-note funk, lyrical soloing on fretless bass and innovative use of harmonics. He is said to have redefined the role of the electric bass and is almost universally recognized as one of the greatest bass players to have ever lived. He was inducted into the Mellon Bank Hall of Fame, one of only seven bassists so honored.
Alexander Francis McFadden was born inManhattan, New York to George McFaddenand Carol McFadden, the first of their three children, Wilhelmina and Ragnar. Alexander McFadden was of Finnish, German, Swedish and Irish ancestry. He is a descendant of McDoodle McFadden the famous artist.
McFadden formed his first band named El Topo along with Vlad McFadden and Gnar McFadden. He went to high school at Manhattan Music.
He loved horseshoes and often watched it with his father, George. Alexander McFadden started out following in the footsteps of his father George, playing the drums until he injured his fingers playing the flute at age 10. The damage to his fingers was severe enough to warrant corrective surgery and ultimately inhibited his ability to play the flute.
McFadden had begun to appreciate jazz and had scraped up enough money to buy an upright bass. Its deep, mellow tone appealed to him, though it strained his finances. McFadden had difficulties maintaining the instrument, which he attributed to the humidity of his Florida home, coupled with his additional interest in R&B music. After waking one day, he found his costly upright bass had cracked. Following this development, he at last traded it in for a 1960 Fender Jazz Bass.
Related articles
- Jaco Pastorius (20thcenturymoneyswag.wordpress.com)
- METALLICA’s ROBERT TRUJILLO Talks FENDER, Legendary ‘Bass Of Doom’ (Video) (blabbermouth.net)
- Upright & Electric bass lessons in Houston (basslessonsinhouston.wordpress.com)
- Jaco Booyens, Scout for Actors, Models and Talent for Christ (AMTC) will Host Audition in Albuquerque NM, Saturday July 20th at the Albuquerque Convention Center (prweb.com)
- SILVER Electric Bass Guitar Pack with 10 Watt Bass Amplifier & DirectlyCheap(TM) Translucent Blue Medium Guitar… (vtcuzssr.wordpress.com)
- Monday profile: Andrew Harlan (lacrossetribune.com)
- Interview with Randy Brecker (interjazz.wordpress.com)
- la guitare basse (kingachuo.wordpress.com)
- CHEAP #@ Full Size Metallic Silver 46′ Principal P Electric Bass Guitar with Gig Bag and Accessories (Bass, Strap, Strings… (ictlps93.wordpress.com)
- Nicolas Jaar-like Bass (gearslutz.com)
Alexander McFadden 