Atma Anur

British born (of west indian heritage, barbados) drummer Atma Anur has been the underground hero of the bay area music scene for over 25 years. After an incredible 96 CDs as a sideman, with most of them in worldwide release and distribution, and many of them on major and high profile independent labels, Atma is now producing vocal and instrumental bands and artists.Some current productions include work for San Francisco's Fornax(hip hop),Cornerstone Church,Einstone(vocal pop),and Doug Doppler(new metal). Most recently Atma produced the 12 song debut CD, "Cotton Poly Blend" for Vanessa Van Spall, and is currently(as of july 2007) touring with and producing Lex Karlin, an original member of the Psychotic Pinapple and the renowned hit makers, The Rubinoos(top 10 in the UK in the late 70s). Lex and Atma are collaborating on new pop music in Eastern Europe...check out our new phat single "no sleep...only rock and roll"!!
Some other new artists atma is working with are Vanessa Van Spall (s.f.), 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).
As for his education, Atma attended City-as-School High School for the Performing Arts, and the Manhattan School of Music for orchestral and tuned percussion; both in NYC. Atma continued his 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 studying polyrhythms and gaining “mad” chops.)Right after his studies(at 20 yrs old) Atma's first gig was with the world famous Coasters and The ledgendary Bobby Day, in the Miami Beach Resort Club circuit.
After moving to San Francisco in 1981 Atma played in the then flourishing local jazz scene and began to stretch his eclectic abilities by playing in as many as 7 bands at a time after playing and recording for the world famous Pickle Family Circus for a year. Atma virtually became the “house” drummer for Mike Varney ’s Shrapnel Records , for which he has recorded 18 CDs. Most of these CDs were recorded at Prairie Sun Recording.Located in Cotati Ca.it is one of the Bay Areas best recording facilities. On Shrapnel Atma played with pivotal musicians such as Jason Becker , Tony Mcalpine , 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 discoveries.Under Mike Varneys direction many of these CDs were engineered and mixed by Grammy Award winning producer Steve Fontano and Prairie Suns own Mark "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 comercial guitar hero Joe Satriani and Doug Doppler. Two of Doug and Atmas CDs(Ground Zero, and Nu Instrumetal) have been released in 07 by Steve Vai's Favored Nations record lable.Atma has also played with blues legends like San Franciscos own Jonnie Nitro and the renowned Carlos Guitarlos.Speaking of the blues Atma also had the pleasure of playing with Gregg Allman who says "you sound like a skinny Bernard...(purdie)" of Atma. During the wild 80s Atma kept up with his roots playing with screamin' wolf's DEF MFs(predecesors of the whole "rock/ rap" thing), and Bammie Award winners: Midnight Voices.
This black dredlock rocker has also played with Josh Ramos (The Storm, Hardline), Alex Skolnik (Testament), Steve Smyth (Nevermore,Testament, the esseness project), George Lynch (Dokken), Brad Gillis (Ozzy, Night Ranger) and artists like Santana's Chipito Areas, Bill Sommers, Arthur Rhames, Arturo Ofarrell and even the great composer Sammy Khan, and John Goodsall'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 at the 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 Rumors and Metallica’s Jason Newstead. 90’s hard rockers like Hardline, XYZ, 2 Fires (formerly The Storm), and work with other great rockers like Peter Marrino’s LeMans, Davy Patisson, 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 made his splash on the punk rock scene 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 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, especially the music of the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Atma has played with two of the violinists from the band, Steve Kindler and most recently with Jerry Goodman. They are featured on guitarist Lindsey Boullt’s new CD, "Composition", with Derrick Sherinian (Dream Theatre) on 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 ledgend; Michele Shocked,and bass masters: Billy Sheehan, T.M. Stevens, Andy West (dixie dreggs),and Glen Huges of DEEP PURPLE fame.
Check out the rare video clip from the 80s of atma live with Cacophony. Also a brand new video of new latin artist; David Callejon from bacelona...just layin' it down!!This one was recorded and video taped at San Francisco' Hyde Street Studios. This studio is truly a Bay Area ledgend.There are also some MTV videos up and some other obscure stuff to enjoy( world war peace, dakota son, etc...), more live vids to come.
All this and endorsments too!
Here is my ReverbNation player with lots of my music in a very wide variety...enjoy!!!


..ma/atmab.jpg"