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Zest Entertainment DJ Agency
Funky House / DnB
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  Jay On Drums

House,DnB, retro grooves

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                        Jay –On-Drums

jay on drums bongo player extrordinaire!



Biog
Having a Father who played drums, I spent many hours as my Fathers 'Roadie' helping him load and unload his drums almost every weekend at gigs all over London. Little did I know that this would be good practice for my profession all these years later. Even then, playing on a drum kit. I would turn off the resonator on the snare drum. And play out drum rolls without using the cymbals, only concentrating on the drums themselves to create 'tribalistic rhythms'.
Even though I took drum lessons and understood the rudiments behind drumming my attraction to the 'electro' 'hiphop' and 'breakdance' scene in the late 70's and early 80's took me away from the drums on a physical level and into a 100 percent audio experience, listening to music almost 24 hours a day, experiencing the explosion of musical genre's that have given way to the music scene as we know it today.
Almost every DJ's biography can remember wanting to mix together music where as I always wanted to express the rhythms that I could feel inside of me. Albeit, breakdancing, body popping, beat boxing. As I moved through my teenage years and into my twenties I never lost my love for the music but only expressed myself by annoyingly tapping out sounds on almost everything and anything that was close to hand, much to the annoyance of all that were close by...
After a major upheaval in my life in 1994 (and almost 10 years since last playing a drum kit) my brother took me under his wing and invited me to 'Jus House' the most amazing underground night held under the arches in the Bermondsey area of S.London. A weekly night hosted by Sarah H.B with live PA's. This gathering was at the location called 'Happy Jax' a club night run by Jeff, Mary and their sons Tommy Ben and George. They renamed their night 'One for You' and resident DJ's Amanda and Chris G introduced to us an awesome fix of uplifting house. It was at this time that a friend of mine, Kelly Chambers bought me some Indian clay bongos and I could be found at the after parties @ 'Horns' banging away to mixed tapes of the resident DJ's when everyone was attempting to 'chill out'.
It was here that I made my first ever live performance. A pair of bongos brought back from Cuba as a present for the owners of the clubs Son, Ben and BONGO JAY was born.

 

jay on drums london and essex number one percussionist


After much praise from those around me I saved up enough money to purchase some 'Afro' congas and proceeded to stand on stage and attempt to be heard over the booming sound system by playing with water bottles and sticks. I would spend hours in a trance like state with my eyes closed just listening to the DJ's mix endless hours of music together in such diverse ways, whilst enhancing the sound of the music with the drums. Over the next two years, with audiences of 500+ every weekend my confidence grew, especially after playing with guest DJ's such as Graham Gold, Biko, Luv Dup, Nancy Noise, Dave Lambert, Jon Pleased Women, Pete Wardman and Fat Tony and of course DJ Amanda and Chris G.
My talent to play over such diverse music and mixing without taking away the DJ's set enhanced what was already a truly historic era in the club scene as we know it today

In 1996, I was contacted by the Ministry of Sound as I had been recommended as a percussionist. Within a few weeks I made my debut headlining with Alistair Whitehead and Brandon Block in front of 4000 university students at their annual union ball on the grounds of Luton Hoo Stately Home. An amazing experience made even more amazing when the decks cut out during Alistair's set and the M.O.S tent fell to silence. With only two beats missed, I started to boom out some sounds on my drums building the silent tent into a dancing and cheering frenzy until Alistair mixed in an awesome uplifting house track. 'Bongo Jay had saved the day'
The Ministry team were very impressed and I was asked to accompany them on many tour dates around the UK playing with DJ's such as Jazzy M, Heaven, Falatio and Paul Jackson. The inspiration I got from playing alongside Jazzy M was incredible and I found myself playing in the 'BAR' room on Saturday nights. Just two congas, bongos and some sticks with no mic's and the acoustics were amazing
A truly great experience was my first gig outside of the UK playing in Turkey on behalf of the leading radio/television station Numero 1. The MOS team were flown out to Bodrum to perform at an out-of-doors club. The gig itself was headlined by Stevie P and Gareth Cooke joined by myself and three dancers. On arrival we were told that at midnight the three dancers were to arrive standing at the front of a 100ft boat, into the back of the club. That the music would be turned off, and that they would like the drummer to start an acoustic beat as the dancers made there way above the crowd to their podiums. Once they were in position they wanted the DJ to mix in the first record to the drums. On top of all this their would be television crews filming the event and broadcasting live across Turkey! The pressure was on, the atmosphere was electric. And when that first record came in with the drums the club, all 2500 people went crazy and it just got higher and higher for 5 hours
The highlight of my time with the Ministry of Sound was working with CJ Macintosh.
We were flown 1st Class to the Philippines. An old 2nd world war aircraft hanger was turned into a warehouse rave for one night. We arrived at midnight to 4000-5000 people and atmosphere was awesome. CJ was in control of three decks I had 7 drums set up on stage. MTV Asia had done a series of interviews with us all and were there filming for future broadcasting. I had never worked with CJ before and told him 'no matter what you do I will keep up', he smiled and said 'we shall see'. We started our show and for the first 30 minutes CJ worked three turntables with mixes that were incredible. He lifted the crowd up and up and up sending my drumming into a wonderful vibration, with the help of the sound man who was spinning my drums off around the warehouse, until eventually CJ dropped the music at just the same time as I completed some wonderful drum beats. I raised my hands in the air, turned around with a beaming smile and he lent over and shook my hand..! A truly amazing moment in my career to date.
Since that wonderful moment I have been working all over London and surrounding counties and as far afield as France and Marbella. I have been concentrating on expanding my teqnique and developing differant sized sets to accomodate various sized events. I turned professional in 2001 and have worked with many high profile promotions and event organisers



BOOKING HISTORY

( Name From – Until Location Genre)

PHIZZLE PUNKS May04 – Present Cherry Jam, London Electro House
(Resident) Cafe De Paris (VIP Bar)

Playing alongside DJ’s Stevie ‘Devious’ D & JP
Performed live with Freaky Fingers (Guitarist) & Maria Angeli (Vocalist)
Future collaborations on the ‘Porn Stars’ Record Label featuring Jayondrums (Dates to be set)


SUNDAY SESSIONS May04 – Present Faces, Hoddesdon R&B, Garage
(Weekly Resident)
Playing alongside resident DJ’s Ross Mac, Mr. Mac (Kiss FM), MC Rankin
Performed live with Ratpack http://www.ratpackmusic.net


HOUSEXY Feb04 – Present Pacha, London Soulful US House
(Bi-Monthly Resident)

Playing alongside resident DJ’s Leo, Clemey Riley & guest DJ’s from HOUSE FM (88.6)
Performed live with Barbara Tucker (US Singer) ‘Beautiful People’ ‘Deep Inside’ ‘I Get Lifted’
Performed live with Kathy Brown (US Singer) ‘Don’t give it up’ ‘Joy’ ‘Love is not a game’
Performed live with Onyx Ashanti (Digital Flute)


HOUSE FM (88.6) Dec03 – Present EGG, London Soulful US House
(Resident) Scala, London
Canvas (Bagley’s)
Ministry of Sound

Playing alongside all major radio stations DJ’s at any event that takes place. http://www.housefm.net
Future studio/session work on the HOUSE FM label (Dates to be set)


ZINGA WARRIORS December 03 Cargo, London Drum & Bass
(Guest)

After hearing my performance earlier in the year, Zinga Warriorz (Birmingham) asked me to stand in for their drummer to perform a one hour live show at the celebration of the ‘Buttercuts’ Record Labels 1st birthday. Very innovative fusion of live music, vocalists & electronic beats. http://www.zingawarriorz.com


HIGH SOCIETY Dec03 – Present Liquid, Peterborough Hard/Funky House
(Resident) Met Lounge, Peterborough Club M, Newmarket

Working alongside resident DJ’s Simon Baker, Paul Kelly and DJ Roo. http://www.high-society.com
In association with RADIO 1,I have worked with Dave Pierce & Fergie
Launch night at Club M where I worked with HED KANDI’s DJ Andy Norman


GRAHAM LISTER September 03 Essex Country & Western
(Studio Session)

Independent record producer of Country &Western music.
Had an 80’s Number 1 global hit with ‘Clingons on the Starboard Bow!’
Added percussion to a track called ‘Over you!’ to feature on a forthcoming album release.

BOOKING HISTORY…continued


Name From – Until Location Genre


DISCQUARTET Aug03 – Present Corporate/Private Events Latin, Disco, Pop…
(Member of group)

Discquartet is a new concept in entertainment whereby the DJ & Live Band are fused together. With an extensive record collection and high quality sound system, the DJ is able to link the percussionist, saxophonist/flutist and vocalist/guest musician together using a headphone monitoring system. This allows the DJ to orchestrate the music and musicians to deliver an evenings entertainment without any pauses. The band is left free to set up in random locations around the premises rather than just on a stage, enabling the audience to interact and experience their evening much more. http://www.organisedkaos.co.uk
Performed with Dave Baptist (Saxophonist/Flutist) & FATCAT (US Soul Singer)


D&B LIVE Jul03 – Present Cargo, London Drum & Bass
(Guest)

D&B Live is a collaboration of DJ’s, MC’s & Musicians to reinforce live music http://www.dnblive.com
Performed alongside DJ’s Mickey Finn & Bryan G
Performed with live band DUST 21
Talks in progress regarding future dates for an event in Cardiff, Wales


TOGETHER Jul03 – Present The Royal Oriental Hotel, Luton Funky House
(Monthly Resident)

Working alongside resident DJ’s / Record Producers ‘Digital Records’ http://www.cometogether.com
Performed with DJ’s Norman Jay (MBE), CJ Macintosh & ATFC
Performed with vocalist Shelley D (Good Looking Records)
Future dates planned for Ministry of Sound and at the launch of a new club called ‘Class Fusion Music & Dance’ in Marbella, Spain.


BRIGHTER DAYS Mar03 – Present Pacha, London US Soulful House
(Resident)

Working with resident DJ’s Rob Acteson & Neil Pierce http://www.brighterdays.co.uk
Performed live with the legendary disco divas Norma Jean Wright and Luci Martin, the original lead vocalists with super group ‘CHIC’
Worked alongside DJ/Record Producer Joey Negro


LOOP BAR Dec02 – Present Tignes, France Mixed Dance Music
(Resident)

Fly out to this ski resort bar to help celebrate the ‘opening’ & ‘closing’ of the season.
Worked alongside Ibiza resident DJ/Producer Reugene Unduso


NIGHTLIFE Sep02 – Present Aquarium, London Soulful US House
(Monthly Resident) Canvas (Bagleys), London

Worked with DJ/Producer Grant Nelson, MJ Cole, Jon Cutler & E-Man
Worked with DJ’s Clemey Riley, Neil Pierce & Paul ‘Trouble’ Anderson
Performed live on stage with Angie Brown, Jocelyn Brown, Kenny Bobien & Michael Watford


WOOF PROMOTIONS Sep02 – Dec02 Peterborough House
(Guest)

Worked with resident DJ’s Ian Stevens & Pete Martine
Worked with DJ Boy George
Performed live with Sleaze Sisters ‘You’re the best thing (That ever happened to me)’


A TOUCH OF CLASS Aug02 – Present Peterborough Funky House
(Monthly Resident)

Worked with resident DJ’s Ru$tler, Mark Anderson & Ian Avery
Performed live with HEIFFA (Pop Idol Finalist, Eurovision 2004 UK Finalist)
Worked with DJ Alex P


RISE / RISING Aug02 – Present Elbow Rooms, Islington Latin/US House
(Monthly Resident) Turnmills, London

Worked with resident DJ/Producer Rob Acteson
Worked with guest DJ’s Tom Waine, Richard M, Roy the Roach


PURE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC Feb02 – Present Living Rooms, Brixton Soul, Funk, Dance…
(Own Promotion) Cafe Cairo, Clapham North Dog Star, Brixton Baroque, Streatham Southwark Rooms, SE 1 Aquarium, London Rhythm Factory, London Babushka’s, Ladbrooke Grove AKA Bar, London

Working together with DJ Chris Grace who unlike most club DJ’s, has not limited himself with just a few genres of music. His record collection is so extensive with selections of music spanning 50+ years covering soul, funk, blues, rock, pop, jazz, hip hop, house of all kinds, break beat and drum n bass. http://www.purebeautifulmusic.com
Pure Beautiful Music’s style is that the DJ starts off in one place and takes the music on a wonderful journey, traveling through various styles of music but put together in a way that always gets people dancing.
We have provided entertainment for the BBC to perform at the ‘Wrap’ party for the children’s series ‘The Queens Nose’
We have provided entertainment for ITV to perform at the ‘Wrap’ party for the forth coming TV series ‘Rose & Malone’ starring actress ‘Sarah Lancashire’ (Coronation St.)
We have provided entertainment for Orange Productions ‘Wrap’ party for the film due out this year named ‘Dead Fish’ starring ‘Robert Carlyle’ & ‘Gary Oldman’
Performed with’ Groove Armada’ DJ, Andy Cato


20’s IBIZA REUNION September 99 Prestatyn, Wales Dance
(Guest)

After working with DJ/Organizer John Constantine in Ibiza, I was booked to play at the Ibiza Reunion Weekender working alongside a vast number of DJ’s & Dancers over 3 days.
Performed live with ‘One Phat Diva’ & ‘Leo Sayer'


BONGO COLLECTIVE July 99 West End, Ibiza Funky House
(Guest) Es Paradis, Ibiza
Mambo, Ibiza

Worked at various nights around the Island with DJ’s Ariel, Steve Facey (Kiss FM) & Brandon Block


KINKY MALINKI Sep99 – Dec03 Imperial Gardens, London Funky House
(Monthly Resident) Aquarium, London
Glasshouse, London
Cross, London
Ministry of Sound, London
Eden, Ibiza
Space, Ibiza

Worked with the Kinky Malinki promotion as their resident percussionist over 5 years, playing with 100’s of resident DJ’s http://www.kinkymalinki.com
Worked with DJ’/Producers Bobby & Steve, Kids Stuff, Sharp Boys, Grant Richards, Raymundo Rodriguez
Performed with ‘Shelley D’ Vocalist signed to ‘Good Looking Records’


MINISTRY OF SOUND Jun96 – Aug98 Luton Hoo Stately Home House
(Resident) M.O.S Bar, London
University Tours, England & Scotland
Bodrum’, Turkey
Manila, Philippines

My first booking with the M.O.S was at the UK University Student Ball which was held at Luton Hoo Stately Home in Bedfordshire. I was booked to play in the dance tent with DJ’s Alistair Whitehead & Brandon Block. During my set with Alistair, the power failed on the DJ equipment and silence fell on the 4000 strong crowd. I instantly started to play my drums acoustically building the rhythm up and getting the whole dance tent dancing and cheering until the DJ mixed in a record. This saved a very embarrassing moment and led onto me being booked on a permanent basis.
Went on tour across England and Scotland performing at Universities ‘Fresher Weeks’ working with DJ’s Jazzy M & Heaven
Joined DJ’s Jazzy M, Tim Deluxe, Paul Jackson on the ‘RULIN’ promotion held on Saturday’s in the BAR.
Traveled to Turkey to perform in an open air club with DJ’s Gareth Cooke & Stevie P. The main radio station named ‘NUMERO 1’ were the promoters of the night. With the 2,500 capacity met, our set started with a drum solo from myself as the dancers, dressed in eccentric costumes sailed into the rear of the club on a 100ft yacht. I built up the atmosphere as the dancers made their way to their podiums above the crowd, driving the audience crazy until the DJ’s dropped the first record into my drum beats. The night was made even more amazing by the fact that it was broadcast live across Turkey to over a million listeners and filmed live for TV coverage.
Traveled to Philippines to perform in an old American aircraft hanger with World Class DJ CJ Macintosh. With a 4-5000 strong crowd and working on stage with CJ, dancers and an amazing team of sound and light engineers. This experience was by far the most amazing that I have experienced to date, made even more special as MTV ASIA filmed the event for future broadcasts all over Asia.


ONE FOR YOU Jun94 – Sep96 Happy Jax, London Uplifting House
(Weekly Resident)

This is were it all began, playing on stage in front of 500 clubbers playing with water bottles and sticks working alongside resident DJ’s Amanda & Chris Gee
Worked with DJ’s Graham Gold, Biko, Pete Wardman, Luv Dup, Fat Tony &, Nancy Noise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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