Stephen Jay

Tangled Strings Stephen Jay

Stephen Jay is a bassist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. His bass recording credits include 3 Grammy winners and 9 Grammy nominated albums and is the credited bassist on 9 Gold and 5 Platinum albums (RIAA). Stephen specializes in combining ethnic and modern instruments to create a blend of the exotic and contemporary. He has scored more than seventy nationally broadcast PBS specials and series episodes, including three George Foster Peabody Award winners, and contributed to feature films. His background includes a BA and MM Graduate Fellowship in composition, and studies with composers John Cage, Lucas Foss, Max Neuhaus and Charles Wuronien. Stephen's past work includes performing and recording with Wayne Shorter, Hugh Masekela, Alex Acuna, Luis Conte, Isah Hamani, Joe Higgs, Yvonne Elliman, Jimmy Haskell and others. He is an original and continuing member of Al Yankovic's band. Stephen's bass and drum duo, "Ak & Zuie" has toured the US, Canada, and Australia, and has appeared PBS. His world music experience includes performance and studies throughout West Africa and Southeast Asia. From his field recording of world music Stephen produced 2 albums for the Nonesuch Explorer Series (WEA). Stephen's original music is played on NPR as "bumpers", and he has been a guest on NPR's "All Things Considered".