FIVE QUESTIONS: MCKINLEY JAMES

THE SOUL / BLUES / ROCK ’N’ ROLL AFICIONADO ON HOW HE FILLS OUT A DUO — AND WHY YOU’LL PROBABLY NEVER SEE HIM FEATURED IN OUR “MY PEDALBOARD” SECTION

- Mark McStea

McKINLEY JAMES IS at the forefront of the current crop of new, young blues players. Named after Muddy Waters (born McKinley Morganfield), it was a no-brainer that he’d gravitate toward the blues, although for James, there’s a hefty dose of vintage Stax soul in the mix. Eschewing the predictable, over-the-top flash and bombast of so many ax-slingers, James’ playing is all about tone, touch and taste, with a mighty injection of hard-rocking energy in the mix.

You started out on Hammond organ. When and why did you move to guitar?

I switched to guitar when I was about 11. I was never really super serious about the Hammond, but I was hugely into Booker T. We had an old video of Booker T. & the MGs backing a whole bunch of Stax artists; watching Steve Cropper playing on that was what made me want to switch. Then I got into Link Wray and the great blues guys like Magic Sam and Otis Rush.