Eugene Stephen Jay (born January 26, 1951) is an American bassist, best known for working with "Weird Al" Yankovic.
Steve Jay | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Eugene Stephen Jay |
| Born | January 26, 1951 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Bassist |
| Instrument(s) | Bass guitar, banjo, guitar, keyboards, flute, recorder, vocals |
Early life
Jay was born Eugene Stephen Jay in Detroit, Michigan on January 26, 1951. He auditioned for "Weird Al" Yankovic in 1982 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 has also done extensive session work, released eight solo records on his own Ayarou label, and produced two albums for the WEA Nonesuch Explorer series.
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 Niger and spent two and half years studying drumming.[citation needed] Selections from his archival field recordings of traditional West African ceremonies, dances, and solo performances were made into three albums released by Warner/Nonesuch.
Discography
Nonesuch Explorer Series
- Ghana: Ancient Ceremonies, Songs, and Dance Music
- Dances of the World
- West Africa: Drum, Chant, and Instrumental Music[1]
With "Weird Al" Yankovic
- "Weird Al" Yankovic
- "Weird Al" Yankovic In 3-D
- Dare to Be Stupid
- Polka Party!
- Even Worse
- UHF - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff
- Off the Deep End
- Alapalooza
- Bad Hair Day
- Running with Scissors
- Poodle Hat
- Straight Outta Lynwood
- Alpocalypse
- Mandatory Fun
Solo albums
- Sea Never Dry – 1997
- Film Music – 1998 – a collection of 66 short excerpts from his original film and television scores
- Tangled Strings – 1999[2]
- Self Avoiding Random Walk – 2000
- Outer Voice – 2004
- Rounder Gaze – 2004
- Friction – 2004
- Plus – 2004
- Physical Answer – 2008
- Chaos, Clouds and Tongue – 2011
- Things Change – 2013
- El Natural 7 – 2016
- Spontaneous Symmetry – 2016
- When One Remains – 2016
- So Do I Sadie – 2018
- Vita Beata – 2022
With Ak & Zuie
- Non-Franciscan Duets
Compilations
- Deep Forest
- Late in the 20th Century: An Elektra / Nonesuch New Music Sampler
References
External links
- Official website
- Uncharted Territory from Global Bass Magazine, December 2001
- Stephen Jay, Bass Player for Weird Al Yankovic, On Playing Live Through Mackie SR1530s from Bass Player Magazine, May 11, 2005