Bio

Legendary drummer and band leader Jay Dittamo has been a driving force in the NY/NJ music scene as well as having toured the world with various music projects for decades. Jay has performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the United Nations and for the 2010 New Jersey Hall of Fame as well as played on many TV and movie soundtracks. Jay has been a DC and Marvel comics fan since he was a kid and that is reflected in his recording studio The Cave Studio which is fashioned after Batman’s bat cave. The Cave Studio is where he has written many filmscores and recorded many famous artists such as Bucky Pizzarelli and Gloria Lynne. He has been written about in Downbeat magazine and NorthJersey.com. There are few musicians around who are a blend of having their own voice when they play and a wealth of experience to back it up. Plainly put, Jay is a musical Hero like one of his favorite comic icons.

Jay started his musical journey by learning from his uncle Freddie Dittamo, a noted musician from Patterson NJ. Freddie Dittamo had performed with Frank Sinatra, Toscanini, Leonard Bernstein and Louie Prima just to name a few. Freddie taught Jay, first hand, how to play drums and percussion, Jay making a pact with his uncle that, “he would always be with me”.

Jay also studied with Jim Chapin, Gary Chaffee & Freddie Gruber.....

Although Jay’s musical interest are vast, his main musical love for progressive rock & Jazz being and a Frank Zappa fan He got his chance to audition for Zappa in 1981 but opted to pursue playing his own original music. In 1994 Jay performed with members of Zappa’s band calling the project "Band (Banned)from Utopia" Featuring: Ike Willis, Arthur Barrow, Ed Mann, Robert Martin, Kurt McGettrick, Tommy Mars, Bruce and Tom Fowler. He also has made an appearance with the Zappa tribute band "Project Object" Featuring Napoleon Murphy Brock & Denny Walley

Jay has also performed and worked with:

Bucky Pizzarelli, John & Martin Pizzarrli, Lenny White, Ace Frehley, Keith Emerson, Brad Whitford (Aerosmith), Jose Feliciano, Nektar, C&C Music Factory, Willie Colon, Jimmy Webb, Gloria Lynne, Rick Derringer, Junoon, Yoko Ono, Dave and Eddie Brigati (The Rascals), Morton Harket (A-ha), Dr Lonnie Smith, Anthony Jackson, Will Lee, Ralph Armstrong, Anthony Jackson, BCTD Band (Joe Berger,Chris Clark, Charlie Torres) The Vivino Jimmy & Jerry Brothers, Uncle Floyd,Dave Keyes

Gene Cornish

The Duprees, The Crests, Chuck Berry, Joey D and the Starliters, The Mystics, The Drifters, The Marvelettes, The Tokens, The Vogues, Chester Thompson, Paster Jimmie Smith, Joe Piscopo, Jon Paris, Lou Pollo, Lenny Welch, Lita Ford, Arlen Roth, Johnny A, Jerry Niewood, Robert Randolph, Richie Marrerro, Richie Ranno, Jimmy Kunes, Steven Maglio, Grover Kemble, Steve Tyrell,Brynn Stanley, John Colianni, Wallace Roney, Steven Maglio, Jerry Bruno, Patrick Swayze and Adam West (from the TV series Batman).