Ajay Coletta – Drums & Percussion
Favorite SD Tunes: Babylon Sisters, Gaucho & Dr. Wu
Ajay teaches graphic, web and multimedia design as well as courses in digital media, project management and communication. Check out Ajay’s online portfolio here: www.eastsidemedia.com
The website for Hey Nineteen, the logo (inspired by the original Steely Dan logo), branding (colors inspired by the Aja album) and many of the videos were produced & created by Ajay.
“I was fortunate to grow up in the 70’s in a household where my mother would listen to great music; I remember watching her make dinner and grooving to Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and the Pips and many of the great Motown artists…
As the 70s turned into the 80s, I started to find more influences including the progressive rock of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, the amazing vibe from Bob Marley, the artistic interpretations of King Crimson and Peter Gabriel and of course the undeniable sounds of Steely Dan. The late 80s introduced more favorites including The Police and Paul Simon; when I heard the high hat intricacies of Stewart Copeland (Walking on The Moon), and the polyrhythmic interpretations of Steve Gadd (Aja, Late in the Evening), I knew that drum set and percussion would be my musical voice.”
In 2013, Dale Dejoy (Hey Nineteen band leader) met Ajay at the Ocean Mist in Matunick, RI and joined Dale’s acoustic act “The Yewts”- performing as part of the Thursday night Summer dinner series. The sets includes many popular tunes from artists like The Eagles & James Taylor, but Dale could not resist including his favorite Steely Dan tunes into the setlist. The affinity for Steely Dan inspired the “two yewts” to start Hey Nineteen.
Ajay’s other bands include – Santa Mamba, Planet Groove, Fat Buddha, The Yewts, Harambe’ (West African), Regatta, Ghost In The Machine (A Police Tribute Band), What’s Up Bach, Wilson Blue & The Blue Roots Reggae Band, The Ignitors…
