Jake Cinninger

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Jacob Alan Cinninger (born December 16, 1975) is an American musician, one of two lead guitarists for Chicago-based jamband Umphrey's McGee. His style is a fusion of speed and soul, and resembles artists as varied as Eddie Van Halen to Jeff Beck.

Hailing from Niles, Michigan, Jake took classical guitar lessons at Mendoza's Music, located in Roseland, South Bend. Jake started out playing in many different bands ranging in styles from jazz fusion to country. In 1997 Jake started his own band Ali Baba's Tahini and regularly played shows along side of another local band, Umphrey's Mcgee. Jake was very music savvy from a young age, he gained all his music knowledge outside of any school. Eventually, Jake left Ali Baba's Tahini to pursue a career as a professional musician as a full-time member of Umphrey's McGee in 2000.

Since joining the band, he has, along with founder Brendan Bayliss, become one of the group's main singers and songwriters.

In 2001, Cinninger released a self-titled solo album released on the Monkey Fuzz Records label. Several of its tracks developed into Umphrey's McGee songs, such as "Blue Echo," "Utopian Sky" which became "Utopian Fir," and "Aster Heights" which grew to become "Roulette."

In 2004, five years after their initial split, Cinninger reformed Ali Baba's Tahini to record an album in the North Carolina mountains.

Jake uses a G&L S500, G&L ASAT, and a G&L S500 delux. He also uses an early 80's Marshall JCM 800 and also Fuchs Audio Technology, and with Umphrey's McGee endorses Moog Synthesizers, Morley effects pedals, and BBE Sound effects.

Jake also incorporates an unusual type of tremolo arm on his G&L guitar. The arm itself is a small piece of metal or plastic which is conformed to a specific shape. It is used as a palm rest to actuate the vibrato. This device is called the "blade" and was custom made.