by Linda KohanovInspired by his teacher Jaco Pastorius, Manring has taken the electric bass into new territory. A native of the Washington, DC, area, he played classical bass in high school chamber groups and orchestra while also working in local Top 40 bands. From 1979 to 1982, he honed his chops in the DC fusion group Natural Bridge and also started performing with guitarist Michael Hedges. Manring played on Hedgess Windham Hill debut Breakfast in the Fields. Since then, the bassist has become the Windham Hill session man, recording on albums by Will Ackerman, Ira Stein, and Russel Walder in addition to his frequent tours with Hedges. Manring is a also a key member in the labels all-star band, Montreux.\r