Jeff Bova
Jeff Bova | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Washington D.C.,U.S.A. |
| Genres | Pop Rock Hard rock |
| Occupation(s) | Keyboardist Composer Arranger Record producer |
| Instrument(s) | Piano,Synthesizer,Keyboards,Trumpet |
| Years active | 1970s-present |
Jeff Bova(bornJeffrey Bovain 1953) is an AmericanGrammy Award-winningkeyboardist,composer,arrangerandrecord producer.He has been active in music industry since the mid-1970s, contributing to dozens of recordings by significant mainstream artists likeCeline Dion,Michael Jackson,Blondie,Eric Clapton,Joe Cocker,Cyndi Lauper,Bill LaswellandHerbie Hancock,Bernard EdwardsandTony Thompson,Meat Loaf,Missing Persons,Iron Maiden,andBilly Joelamong others.
Early life
Born inWashington D.C.,he grew up inOld Greenwich, Connecticut.Being the son of a professional trumpet player, he took the instrument up for himself during elementary school and continued with it at theBerklee College of Musicand theManhattan School of Music.Although he also had arranging and composition lessons by trumpet legendMaury Deutsch,he would choose to specialize in keyboards instead. After leaving college he participated in a Connecticut-basedjazz fusionband called "Flying Island" and later on he moved back to New York to find a place into theR&BgroupChange(from 1982 to 1984).
Career
1980s
In 1983, and after having worked withNona Hendryx,he metavant-gardebassistandrecord producerBill Laswell,who was set to produceHerbie Hancock'sFuture Shock(the first part of the latter's "techno-funk" trilogy). The tour in support of that album found Bova on Hancock's live band, as he was proficient in theARP Chroma(a much heard instrument onFuture Shock). He would work with him for the next 5 years, contributing to the recordings of the final part of the trilogy (Perfect Machine), while he also programmed and composed tracks for several of the soundtracks Hancock has been working on, including that of theSean PennfilmColours.Soon after, he started working on numerous projects that where held in thePower Stationand eventually obtained a room of his own there (courtesy of the studio's ownersTony BongioviandBob Walters). In 1987 fellow Power Station "resident", bassistBernard Edwards(ofChic), formed the rock-funksupergroupDistance,with Bova on keyboards,Tony Thompson(also of Chic) on drums, futureBad CompanymemberRobert Harton lead vocals andEddie Martinezon guitars. They released only one album, 1989'sUnder the One SkyonReprise Records,which failed to chart.
1990s
During the 1990s Bova achieved great commercial success as a producer ofCeline Dion'sGrammy Award-winning albumFalling into You.He also played Hammond organ and synthesizers withMeat LoafonBat out of Hell II: Back Into Hell."Back Into Hell," an instrumental track off ofBat out of Hell II: Back Into Hell,was arranged and performed entirely by him, while "Fiesta De Las Almas Perdidas," a short song also written by Bova, was featured in Meat Loaf's 1995 albumWelcome to the Neighborhood.
Partial discography
Partial Jeff Bova's discography, as a keyboardist, composer, arranger and producer:
- Riptide-Robert Palmer,1985
- Starpeace-Yoko Ono,1985
- True Colors-Cyndi Lauper,1986
- Eat 'Em and Smile-David Lee Roth,1986
- The Bridge-Billy Joel,1986
- Color in Your Life-Missing Persons,1986
- Perfect Machine-Herbie Hancock,1988
- Instinct-Iggy Pop,1988
- Original Sin-Pandora's Box,1989
- A Night to Remember-Cyndi Lauper,1989
- Jody Watley-Jody Watley,1989
- Under the One Sky-Distance,1989
- Journeyman-Eric Clapton,1989
- Stranger in This Town-Richie Sambora,1991
- Bat out of Hell II: Back into Hell-Meat Loaf,1993
- HIStory-Michael Jackson,1995
- Welcome to the Neighborhood-Meat Loaf,1995
- Falling into You-Celine Dion,1996
- Stories Told & Untold-Bad Company,1996
- In Deep-Tina Arena,1997
- Brave New World- Iron Maiden, 2000
- Talk to Me-Joe McIntyre,2006
- Bag Of Bones-Europe,2012