Christian Schinelli is a master of the groove, an essential element for any bass player. Schinelli possesses a deep and hypnotic pocket, a warm organic tone and a tasteful approach. He has the chops to charge the ears with sheets of sound, but the determined restraint and experience to play exactly what a track needs, whether live or in studio. He’s learned all the colors, but with that limitless palette, he manages to paint with the essentials. As the best ones do, Schinelli’s ultimate service is to the demands of the song.
Music found Schinelli at an early age. Violin was his first instrument and his teacher was a first chair violinist for the San Diego Symphony. By age 12 the guitar had peaked his interest, inspired by the Jimmies, Hendrix and Page. In 1991, by the age of 20, he was accepted into Hollywood’s prestigious Bass Institute of Technology, where he graduated in 1992. While there, Schinelli studied jazz, rock and soul with such accomplished teachers as Tim Bogert (Jeff Beck, Vanilla Fudge, Cactus) and Bob Magnusson (Sarah Vaughan, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, 10,000 Maniacs).
Citing influences like John Paul Jones, Paul Jackson, Herbie Hancock, Weather Report and Frank Zappa, Schinelli brought his eclectic background to the stage as one of the founding members of San Diego’s soul jazz band The Price Of Dope. After many years and thousands of shows, Christian has shared the stage with such note worthies as the Roots, Prince and The Black Keys. He played with Pocket for 7 years, a collection of some of San Diego’s finest players and then joined the heavy touring rock n roll band Dirty Sweet. Playing live with these divergent entities has only increased the different flavors Christian brings to the table. After 4 years of touring with Dirty Sweet, nationally and throughout Europe. Schinelli returned to San Diego to focus on shedding and becoming a better musician.
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