Jeff Quay spent a quarter-century and more with Blue Man Group, rising from backup drummer at the show’s 1994 Boston opening to music director with a voice in the music of every Blue Man production. He moved with the show to Chicago, where it ran at the Briar Street Theatre until its final performance on January 5, 2025. Along the way he sat in with the 8G Band on Late Night with Seth Meyers.
Born and raised in rural Wisconsin, Jeff has been drumming for over 35 years. He spent his childhood listening to eclectic music, turned onto the rock, pop and jazz icons of the day by his older sibling. “I saw the Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers in second grade, thanks to my brother,” he recalls fondly. “I started playing in bands in high school and haven’t had a real job since I was 23.Jeff moved down to Miami in the 80’s and was schooled by Eddie Harris. Later on, he toured with Expose, Julio Iglesias and the Bee Gees. The best fun was my Dead cover band, The Zen Tricksters.
In ’94, Jeff had a friend who knew Ian Pai (original Blue Man Group drummer) and he got an audition as the Blue Man back-up drummer. He got the gig when we opened in Boston and had a blast there for two years. When the show went to Chicago, he made the move.” Jeff sat on the kit, providing the pulse behind the Blue Men, and had a voice in the musical direction of all the Blue Man shows.