Steve Jay
Encyclopedia
Eugene Stephen "Steve" Jay (born January 26, 1951) is a bass guitar
ist best known for working with the singer-songwriter
"Weird Al" Yankovic
.
Jay was born in Florida. He auditioned for Yankovic after answering an ad in the newspaper, and the two have worked together ever since. Jay can be heard or seen on all of Yankovic's albums, videos, and concerts.
He is also the founder of the ethno-funk duo, Ak & Zuie
, with Pete Gallagher
. He has scored more than fifty nationally broadcast PBS specials and series episodes, including three George Foster Peabody Award winners, and contributed to several feature films. He's also done extensive session work, released eight solo records on his own Ayarou label, and produced two albums for the WEA Nonesuch Explorer series.
and spent two and half years studying drumming. Selections from his archival field recordings of traditional West African ceremonies, dances, and solo performances were made into three highly acclaimed albums released by Warner/Nonesuch. Weakened by malaria and intestinal parasites, he eventually had to return to the United States.
He relocated to Los Angeles to audition for Frank Zappa
, in which he was given a complex piece to sight read. After Frank Zappa neglected to allow Jay to audition, he auditioned for "Weird Al" Yankovic
and has been playing with him ever since.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist best known for working with the singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
"Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
.
Jay was born in Florida. He auditioned for Yankovic after answering an ad in the newspaper, and the two have worked together ever since. Jay can be heard or seen on all of Yankovic's albums, videos, and concerts.
He is also the founder of the ethno-funk duo, Ak & Zuie
Ak & Zuie
Ak & Zuie is an ethno-funk duo, consisting of bassist Steve Jay and drummer Pete Gallagher.Ak & Zuie was formed in the Sandakan province of northeastern Borneo. Jay and Gallagher noticed that audiences previously unfamiliar with amplified music responded favorably to the rhythm of amplified bass...
, with Pete Gallagher
Pete Gallagher
Pete "Zuie" Gallagher is a drummer best known for his work with the ethno-funk duo, Ak & Zuie, with Steve Jay.-Trivia:* Gallagher sat-in for Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz on drums for three shows during "Weird Al" Yankovic's 2003 Poodle Hat Tour. A minor illness prevented Schwartz from playing the kit,...
. He has scored more than fifty nationally broadcast PBS specials and series episodes, including three George Foster Peabody Award winners, and contributed to several feature films. He's also done extensive session work, released eight solo records on his own Ayarou label, and produced two albums for the WEA Nonesuch Explorer series.
Biography
Jay's background includes a BA and MM Graduate Fellowship in composition from the University of South Florida in 1972. After completing his studies, he went to NigerNiger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
and spent two and half years studying drumming. Selections from his archival field recordings of traditional West African ceremonies, dances, and solo performances were made into three highly acclaimed albums released by Warner/Nonesuch. Weakened by malaria and intestinal parasites, he eventually had to return to the United States.
He relocated to Los Angeles to audition for Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
, in which he was given a complex piece to sight read. After Frank Zappa neglected to allow Jay to audition, he auditioned for "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
and has been playing with him ever since.
Nonesuch Explorer Series
- Ghana: Ancient Ceremonies, Songs, and Dance Music
- Dances of the World
- West Africa: Drum, Chant, and Instrumental Music
With Weird Al
- "Weird Al" Yankovic
- "Weird Al" Yankovic In 3-D"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D is the second studio album by American signer-songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on February 28, 1984, by Rock 'n Roll Records. The album was one of many produced by former The McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer...
- Dare to Be StupidDare to Be StupidDare to Be Stupid is the third studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1985. The album was one of many produced by former The McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer...
- Polka Party!
- Even WorseEven WorseEven Worse is the fifth studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1988. The album was the fifth produced by former The McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer...
- UHF - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other StuffUHF - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other StuffUHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff is the sixth studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic. The album featured many music cuts from the film as well as some of the commercials and other parody bits...
- Off the Deep EndOff the Deep EndOff the Deep End is the seventh studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1992. This album was the first album self-produced by Yankovic, after six albums with Rick Derringer. Recorded between June 1990 and January 1992, the album was a follow-up to the unsuccessful soundtrack to Yankovic's...
- AlapaloozaAlapaloozaAlapalooza is the eighth studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1993. The cover sleeve is a spoof on the movie poster of the hit movie Jurassic Park. The name is a parody of the music festival Lollapalooza....
- Bad Hair DayBad Hair DayBad Hair Day is the 9th studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1996. This album was the third studio album self-produced by Yankovic. The musical styles on Bad Hair Day are built around parodies and pastiches pop and rock music of the mid 1990s, targeting alternative rock and hip-hop...
- Running With ScissorsRunning with Scissors (album)Running with Scissors is the 10th studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on June 29, 1999. The album contains the hit single "The Saga Begins", a parody of Don McLean's song "American Pie".-Details:...
- Poodle HatPoodle HatPoodle Hat is the Grammy Award-winning 11th studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It was released on May 20, 2003 on Volcano Records. The album debuted at number 17 on the Billboard 200. The album was released on an Enhanced CD...
- Straight Outta LynwoodStraight Outta LynwoodStraight Outta Lynwood is the 12th studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It was released on September 26, 2006 in the U.S. by Volcano, on September 30, 2006 in Australia, on October 3 in Canada, on October 6, 2006 in New Zealand, November 13, 2006 in the United Kingdom, and November 24, 2006 in...
- AlpocalypseAlpocalypseAlpocalypse is the thirteenth studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on June 21, 2011. It is his first studio release in almost five years, following the release of Straight Outta Lynwood in 2006. It is also his first studio album since 1989's UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and...
Solo albums
- Physical Answer
- Sea Never Dry
- Film Music - a collection of 66 short excerpts from his original film and television scores
- Tangled Strings – prior to Tangled Strings, a cassette only release called Whatever It Is was made available, containing many of the same songs which were later released on Tangled Strings. When Tangled Strings was released, Whatever It Is was retired.
- Self Avoiding Random Walk
- Outer Voice
- Rounder Gaze
- Friction
- Plus
Compilations
- Deep Forest
- Late In The 20th Century: An Elektra/Nonesuch New Music Sampler
External links
- http://www.stephenjay.com/
- http://www.myspace.com/ayarou
- http://www.akandzuie.com/
- http://www.weirdal.com/
- Steve Jay, What a guy! - fan site
- Stephen Jay entry on Dean Guitars website
- Uncharted Territory from Global Bass Magazine, December 2001
- The theory of Harmonic Rhythm from Bass Inside Magazine, August 2002
- Stephen Jay: Music and other Miracles from Bass Inside Magazine, September 2002
- Stephen Jay: When Reality Just Isn't Enough! from Bass Inside Magazine, May 2003
- Stephen Jay, Bass Player for Weird Al Yankovic, On Playing Live Through Mackie SR1530s from Bass Player Magazine, May 11, 2005