From the tribal drum circle to the orchestra pit, Jay Atwood walks between musical worlds like an ancient shaman, drawing power and inspiration from primal sources.
A graduate of Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music, Jay has a strong grounding in the Western musical mainstream. He has served on the faculty of the Boston Conservatory, and spent many years conducting professional theatrical productions around the U.S.
But Jay’s musical path took an unusual turn when he first heard Wicked Tinkers perform in 2000. “I knew from the first bagpipe blast that these guys were something special” says Jay. “The music just roared, and so did the Tinkers! The band was screaming at the audience, the audience was screaming back, and they were all dancing like the intoxicated acolytes of some primitive Celtic god. …I loved them immediately!”
In September of 2005, Jay joined Wicked Tinkers on didgeridoo and bronze-age Irish horn. Watching him perform (often in tribal face-paint) it was easy to imagine that he was a priest of that primitive cult - summoning the spirits of rhythm and energy, and channeling them through the didgeridoo right into the pounding hearts and dancing feet of the gathered tribe.
In 2009, Jay left the Tinkers to return to the world of musical theater. He now plays keys and conducts for Disney's "The Lion King" at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. "I miss playing with the boys, but when Disney calls, you answer!" says Jay.
Jay's latest release; BONFIRE DREAMING has been described as “Expansive, fourth-world tribal spaces that will set your spirit to dreaming and your belly to dancing”.
On this exciting CD, Jay brings together exotic Middle Eastern melodies, Indian ragas, tribal drums, and the mysterious rhythms of the Australian didgeridoo; and fuses them all with his unique style of sensual electronica.
For more information about Jay or his music, please contact Stuff@JayAtwood.com
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