Bill Mays


William Allen Mays, known professionally as Bill Mays, is an American jazz pianist from Sacramento, California.
WWW billmays.net

Biography

Mays came from a musical family and at the age of 15 became interested in jazz at an Earl Hines concert.
From 1969 to the early 1980s Mays worked as a studio session musician in Los Angeles. He has been an accompanist to singers Al Jarreau, Peggy Lee, Anita O'Day, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan and Dionne Warwick, and also worked with artists such as Don Ellis, Mel Lewis, Barry Manilow, Shelly Manne, Bob Mintzer, Red Mitchell, Gerry Mulligan, Art Pepper, Bud Shank, Bobby Shew, Sonny Stitt, Paul Winter, Phil Woods, Ray Drummond and Frank Zappa. In 1984, he moved to New York City and began to do more work as a bandleader, composer, and arranger. He has recorded over three dozen albums under his own name, and has been heard on hundreds more by others.

Discography

As leader

A Musical Cocktail: The Music of Cole Porter Two of a Mind with Red Mitchell Tha's Delights with Shelly Manne, Andy Simpkins, Ralph Moore, Tom Harrell One to One with Ray Drummond One to One 2 with Ray Drummond Kaleidoscope with Peter Sprague, Dick Oatts, Harvie Swartz, Jeff Hirshfield Live At Maybeck - Concord Duo Series Volume Seven with Ed Bickert Live At Maybeck An Ellington Affair with Lewis Nash, John GoldsbyMays in Manhattan with Marvin Stamm, Ed Neumeister, Jon Gordon, Sean Smith, Tim Horner Out in Pa. with Matt Wilson, Martin WindBy Ourselves with Marvin Stamm Summer Sketches Going Home Bick's Bag with Neil Swainson, Terry Clarke Live at Jazz Standard Live at Birdland NYC, Stamm/Soph Project Beyond the Red Door with Bud Shank Stuffy Turkey with Joe La Barbera, Mattias Svensson Blue Rondo a la Turk with Keisuke Ohta The Best Is Yet To Come with Joe La Barbera, Rwu Kawamura Mays at the Movies Phil & Bill with Phil Woods Front Row Seat Solo Live at COTA Mays Plays Mays
With Inventions TrioFantasy Delaware River Suite Life's a Movie
With Road Work AheadNight And Day On The Road Again
  • ''Intersection''

As sideman

With Carter BurwellGods and Monsters The Man Who Wasn't There The Alamo Hail Caesar!
With Elliot GoldenthalCobb Interview with the Vampire Sphere
With Benny GolsonCalifornia Message One More Mem'ry One Day, Forever
With Bob MagnussonRevelation Two Generations of Music
With Barry ManilowEven Now One Voice Barry If I Should Love Again I Wanna Do It with You 2:00 AM Paradise Cafe
With Bud ShankHeritage Crystal Comments with Bud Shank and Alan Broadbent Explorations: 1980 with Bud Shank Silver Storm On the Trail Fascinating Rhythms
With Bobby ShewClass Reunion Outstanding in His Field Play Song Telepathy with Bobby Shew Shewhorn
With Frank ZappaBognor Regis One Shot Deal Orchestral Favorites 40th Anniversary
With others