Jay Oliver


Jay Russell Oliver is an American jazz musician, composer, record producer, programmer and engineer. He began his professional music career at the age of 19 as the youngest member of Maynard Ferguson's band. His later credits include: Sheryl Crow, The Eagles, Jimmy Buffett, Wynonna Judd, Glenn Frey, Peabo Bryson, Chick Corea, Dave Weckl, Russ Kunkel, Jay Graydon, AO Music, Celine Dion and many others.
Oliver resides in Los Angeles, where he has worked extensively in music composition and production, ranging from jazz fusion and world music to soundtracks to session work of all kinds.
At the beginning of 2011, after many years of research and field test studies involving the use of sound from a clinical perspective, Oliver founded a company called SmartWav. The company specializes in the use of proprietary tonal, pitch and rhythm mapping technologies that specifically aid infants in areas of brain development and issues of post-womb insomnia.

Early career

Dave Weckl

Oliver and Dave Weckl grew up together in St. Louis where they explored a prolific jazz fusion style. A few years later in Los Angeles, after partnering on Weckl's first three solo releases, they formed The Dave Weckl Band, co-producing two albums.

Sheryl Crow

Oliver was a top local producer in his St. Louis studio when first introduced to a young Sheryl Crow, who at the time was a school teacher and aspiring singer. Oliver eventually began using Crow in recording sessions and featured her in several jingles. She and Oliver moved to Los Angeles within a few years of each other and began co-writing songs that eventually landed Crow a publishing contract and recording deal with A&M Records. Some of those songs were recorded by Celine Dion, Wynonna Judd and others.

Glenn Frey

In the nineties Oliver was hired as Glenn Frey's keyboardist, co-producer and co-writer. Oliver also has production credit with Elliot Scheiner for the Eagles album Hell Freezes Over as well as their live album New Millennium.

Jimmy Buffett

In the late 1980s, Oliver was asked by producer Elliot Scheiner to begin co-writing songs with Jimmy Buffett. He co-wrote the Buffett albums Off to See the Lizard and Barometer Soup, then briefly toured as member of his Coral Reefer Band.

World music

In 1996, Oliver began co-producing with Richard Gannaway, the pan-cultural project AO Music, resulting in journeys to Indonesia, Ireland, the People's Republic of Georgia, South Africa, India, Nepal and a special invitation to China, where they were asked by the Beijing Olympic Committee to compose theme music for the 2008 Summer Olympics. AO Music album releases have won prestigious international awards and held strong chart position since 2000.

Credits

  • Steve Smith, Fiafiaga 1988
  • Jimmy Buffett, Off to See the Lizard 1989
  • Original soundtrack, Arachnophobia 1990
  • Chick Corea, "Inside Out" 1990
  • Dave Weckl, "Master Plan" 1990
  • Jimmy Buffett, "Feeding Frenzy" 1990
  • Dave Weckl, "Heads Up" 1992
  • Glenn Frey, "Strange Weather" 1992
  • Jay Graydon, "Airplay for the Planet" 1993
  • Glenn Frey, "Glenn Frey Live" 1993
  • Dave Weckl, "Hardwired" 1994
  • Eagles, "Hell Freezes Over" 1994
  • Peabo Bryson, "Through the Fire" 1994
  • Tiger & the Helix, "Peace Face" 1994
  • Glenn Frey, "Solo Collection" 1995
  • Jimmy Buffett, "Barometer Soup" 1995
  • Phyllis Hyman, "I Refuse to be Lonely" 1995
  • Peter Mayer, "Green Eyed Radio" 1996
  • Dave Weckl, "Rhythm of the Soul" 1998
  • Dave Weckl, "Synergy" 1999
  • Eagles, "Selected Works: 1972-1999" 2000
  • Aomusic - "Grow Wild" 2000
  • Glenn Frey, "20th Century Masters - The Millennium" 2000
  • Glenn Frey, "Classic Glenn Frey" 2001
  • Dave Weckl, "Zone" 2001
  • Eagles, "The Very Best Of" 2003
  • Jimmy Buffett, "Meet Me in Margaritaville: The Ultimate Collection" 2003
  • Chick Corea, "Rediscovery On Grp: Chick Corea Family" 2004
  • Eagles, "Farewell Tour: Live from Melbourne" 2005
  • Wynonna Judd, "Wynonna Collector's Edition Tin" 2008
  • Russ Kunkel, "Zone" 2008
  • Aomusic - "Twirl" 2009
  • Aomusic - "...and Love Rages on!" 2011
  • Aomusic - "Hokulea"
  • Aomusic - "Asha"
  • Aomusic - "Kutumba"

    Band/ensemble albums

  • Dave Weckl - Master Plan 1990
  • Dave Weckl - Heads Up 1992
  • Dave Weckl - Hardwired 1994
  • Dave Weckl - Rhythm of the Soul 1998
  • Dave Weckl - Synergy 1999
  • Aomusic - Grow Wild 2000
  • Aomusic - Twirl 2009
  • Aomusic - ...and Love Rages on! 2011
  • Aomusic - Hokulea 2013
  • Aomusic - Asha 2017
  • Aomusic - Kutumba 2021