A tribute video of JASON BECKER'S perpetual burn, with Atma Anur... World Visitor Map Here is a player with the a CD produced and arranged by Atma Anur "cotton Poly Blend" for San Francisco artist Vannessa Van Spall.
as a "sideman" i try to play whats right for the song, whether it's an instrumental track or a vocal ballad or a dance tune. as a producer i want to manifest the vision of the song writer..then take it to the next level...
British born (of West Indian heritage, Barbados) drummer ATMA ANUR has been one of the underground heroes of the bay area music scene for over 25 years.
After moving to the U.S. Atma attended CITY-AS-SCHOOL High School for the Performing Arts (where he became good friends with legendary artist JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT), and the MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC for orchestral and tuned percussion, both in NYC. In high school Atma "cut his teeth" by playing drums on the streets of Manhattan (the "real life" jazz university) in various jazz groups (Arthur Rhames, Haywood Peel, and so many other incredible musicians), and played in the famous "NY LOFT-JAZZ" scene in SOHO with artists like Joe Bowie, Luther Tomas, Drowning, 190 PSA and many others. Atma also played experimental jazz duets (drums and electric bass) with EFRAIM SCHWAB (Atma and EFRAIM also wrote a theoretical book, on poly-rhythmic harmony and rhythmic understanding, together).They played all over the NEW YORK area to great acclaim.
Atma continued his musical study at the BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC in Boston, where he studied jazz composition and performance, this was the birth place of his passion for gaining “mad chops"(technique). He studied with great players like, ED KASPIC, JOE HUNT, TOMMY CAMPBELL, RODNEY SMITH, and LENNY NELSON. Rodney was responsible for introducing the 17 year old Atma to the whole "odd-grouping" thing. Atma's first gig after leaving school was with the world famous COASTERS and the legendary BOBBY DAY, in the Miami Beach Resort Club circuit(early home of JACO PASTORIUS) at age 19.
After moving to San Francisco in 1981 Atma played in the then flourishing local jazz scene. Here he began to stretch his eclectic abilities and played in as many as 7 bands at a time, all in many styles of music. In this time Atma also played and recorded for the world famous PICKLE FAMILY CIRCUS for a year, and began teaching drums privately.
In the mid-80s Atma virtually became the “house drummer" for Mike Varney’s SHRAPNEL RECORDS, after being introduced to him by then LEMANS singer, PETER MARINO. Atma has recorded a great many CDs for the SHRAPNEL label. Most of these CDs were recorded at Prairie Sun Recording, located in Cotati Ca. Run by Mark "mooka" Rennek, it is one of the Bay Area's best recording facilities. On Shrapnel Atma played with pivotal musicians such as JASON BECKER, TONY MACALPINE, CACOPHONY, GREG HOWE, RICHIE KOTZEN (Atma and Richie made 8 CDs together including the Geffen Records release "MOTHER HEADS FAMILY REUNION" and the "BILL and TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE" sound track) and many more of Mike’s amazing guitar discoveries. Under Mike Varney's direction many of these CDs were engineered and mixed by GRAMMY AWARD winning producer Steve Fontano and Prairie Sun's own "mooka" Rennick.
As Neal Schon of JOURNEY said of Atma in ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE ”ATMA IS THE JIMI HENDRIX OF DRUMS, THE GUITAR PLAYERS DRUMMER”. Atma’s guitar virtuoso sideman credits also include commercial guitar heroes JOE SATRIANI and DOUG DOPPLER. Two of Doug and Atma's CDs (Ground Zero, and Nu Instrumetal) have been released in '07 by Steve Vai's FAVORED NATIONS record label. Atma has also played with blues legends like San Francisco's own JONNIE NITRO and the renowned CARLOS GUITARLOS. QUEEN IDA, BIG BONES, LADY FEDRA, and IVAN NEVILLE. Speaking of the blues, Atma also had the pleasure of playing with GREGG ALLMAN who says of Atma "MAN YOU SOUND LIKE A SKINNY BERNARD...(purdie)" That is a huge compliment!!! .
During the wild 80s Atma kept up with his roots playing in the BAY AREA'S very popular WORLD BEAT music scene with THE LOOTERS, (where he met and played with LES CLAYPOOL). He also played hard rock rap with Screamin' Wolf's DEF MFs (forerunners of the whole "rock/ rap" thing that broke in the Bay Area), and old school rap/jazz with Bammie Award winners MIDNIGHT VOICES. And with some time left in his day, Atma also played Reggae and soul with renowned percussionist BILL SUMMERS (Herbie Hancock) and Bay Area legend, the late, GEORGE (of george and the wonders).
This black dredlock rocker has also played with Josh Ramos (The Storm, Hardline), Alex Skolnik (Testament), Shane Gibson (korn), Steve Smyth (Nevermore,Testament, the Esseness project), George Lynch (Dokken), Brad Gillis (Ozzy, Night Ranger) and artists like Santana's Chipito Areas, Mingo Lewis, Micheal Carrabello, Arthur Rhames, Arturo Ofarrell and even the great composer Sammy Khan. Atma also played with John Goodsal's BRAND X...euro fusion at it's finest. Atma’s mad musical escapades also include a stint with 80s super group JOURNEY (where he shared the spot light with AMERICAN IDOL’S own Randy Jackson...who played bass in the band at that time.) and a recording with vocal icon DAVID BOWIE.
Some of Atma’s other recording and playing credits are like a who’s who of music and include artists in almost every genre of modern music. They include heavy metal masters like VICIOUS RUMOURS and METALLICA'S own JASON NEWSTEAD. 90’s hard rockers like Hardline, XYZ, 2 Fires (formerly The Storm), and work with other great rockers like Peter Marino’s LEMANS, Davy Pattison, Tim Gorman (The Who) and Kevin Chalfont. Atma also drummed in almost all of Steven Jenkins many projects over a 20 year period, including Bongo People, Puck and Zen and then the world renowned THIRD EYE BLIND. Atma also stayed true to his roots by playing live with English SKA legend DAVE WAKELING (English Beat, General Public).
Atma made his splash on the punk rock scene in the 90s playing drums for the drummer of the legendary Dead Kennedys, D.H. Peligro. Atma and D.H. made 2 CDs together and played many shows and tours, including a tour where they co-headlined Brazil’s famous “Parao do Rock” (underground of rock) concert, performing for 35,000 people.
Atma’s greatest love in music is fusion, and the most important fusion band for him is the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Atma has played with two of the violinists from the band, Steve Kindler and most recently with Gerry Goodman. They are featured on guitarist Lindsey Boullt’s new CD, "Composition", with Derrick Sherinian (Dream Theater) keyboards, Stu Hamm (Joe Satriani), and Jon Herrera on bass, and Sukavat Ali Khan (vocals). A few more artists Atma has worked with include folk/blues legend MICHELE SHOCKED, and bass masters Billy Sheehan, T.M. Stevens, Marco Mendoza, Andy West (dixie dreggs), and Glen Hughes of DEEP PURPLE fame.
RAY GOMEZ, fusion guitar legend, and Atma's good friend says "IF YOU THE MAN...I'M YOUR MAN" as the best tag line for the true side-man! that's Atma for sure!
After 114 CDs as a sideman and/or producer, with most of them in worldwide release and distribution, and many of them on major and high profile independent labels, Atma is also producing vocal and instrumental bands and artists in Europe and the US. Some previous productions include work for San Francisco's Fornax (hip hop), The Cornerstone Church (christian rock), Einstone (vocal pop), and Doug Doppler (new metal). Atma produced the 12 song debut CD, "Cotton Poly Blend" for Vanessa Van Spall (this cd was nominated 4 times in the 2007 grammy award competition and was also nominated in an independent competition for Best New Artist). In Poland, Atma is working on recording projects with Lex Karlin (Psychotic Pineapple, Rubinoos), Super Nova, Latin-Jazz artist Tomasz Bura, Kulturka, and Alens.
Some other artists Atma worked with recently in the studio are,Carmen Milagro (s.f.), David Callejon (spain), Alex Mikas-Fornax (s.f.), Medicine Black (l.a.), World War Peace (Keno Mapp, s.f.), Kasey Cubero (l.a.), If Wen (london) Hardline(los Angles).
Atma is currently working with Italian guitarist Steve Saluto on a recording and touring project, LAFAMIGLIA SUPERSTAR (marco mendoza, doug wimbish, teri ilous) in Italy. In 2007 Atma recorded with guitarists Piotr Konca (of renowned Polish rock band, IRA) and Sebastian Piekarek (of DODA). Along with all this Atma is also teaching at the KRAKOW JAZZ SCHOOL, recording with jazz legends Jarek Smietana and Pawel Meciwoda (bass player with SCORPIONS). And played live shows with MARYLA RODOWICZ. Atma spent the 2008 concert season with the highly regarded Polish rock institution...WAWELE and is currently playing on the weekly Polish TV show ZAGADKOWA BLONDYNKA on TVP 2, Poland.
Atma Anur has also written workshop articles for both Poland's TOP DRUMMER MAGAZINE, and Poland's newest drum publication PERKUSISTA MAGAZINE.
Check out the rare video clip from the 80s of Atma live with CACOPHONY. Also a video of Latin Rock artist David Callejon from Bacelona. That one was recorded and video taped at San Francisco's HYDE STREET STUDIOS. The first video is Atma singing Jimi hendrix's 'foxy lady' live at WOODSTOCK 2009. Next is polish singing star EWELINA FLINTA performing JANIS JOPLIN'S 'cry baby' live at the PRZYSTANEK WOODSTOCK 40th anniversary celebration with an audience of 500,000 people. As always Atma is 'layin' it down' 'West Indian style'!! more live videos to come.
LAFAMIGLIA SUPERSTAR in 'Can You Tell Me'...live and studio shots.. /
Some of Atma's CD work...And a few magazine covers as well!
Hello Atma Anur thank you for being a positive force in this world. Music is one of the few things left that still has the power to bring people from different cultures together in harmony. Always feel free to contact me.
Hi from Barcelona !!! It's an honor for me to be one of your myspace friends !!!!! Really !! You are a big influence in my musical developement, thanks for the add, now I've got to find some time to check all your videos and music, cool ... !! Hope to see you someday in Barcelona. God bless you. Andreu.
Hey dude... what's up?! Go see Michael Jackson's This Is It if you have the chance.... it's got a powerful message about the earth and the people in it.
Brother, I thought that was you drumming on "Perpetual Burn". I knew I heard those funky beats before on Greg Howe's 1st album especially on the song "Land of Ladies". I LOVE that drum intro. Anyway, you are just amazing Atma. My life was changed by listening to superior musicians like you, Tony MacAlpine, and Greg Howe while growing up. I didn't know what great musicianship was all about until I heard you cats. Thank you many times for that.
Hey brother, I just bought Jason Becker's "Perpetual Burn" off of itunes and noticed your fantastic, funky drumming on the song "Ocus Pocus". Were you the drummer on the entire album? Anyway, you are one of the best I have ever heard Atma.
Hey Atma..thanks for the comment to my blog!!..yeah its going great..another killer show tonight...early start tomorrow...long drive to the next city and show tomorrow night...hope ur well Jamie
It would be very cool to hang out in Dec', back for family/xmas etc? I'll keep in touch, maybe try and talk you into getting involved in the LIRIUM project with Lisa Fury and I... what vacation? haha! Great to talk to you, have a groovy week! Dave
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