Composing and Arranging

"I've been composing and arranging for as long as I can remember,” Bill
explains. “Half the time I write just for pleasure; the other half is for specific,
commissioned projects.” He finds that “deadlines are great inspirations!
I don't have much formal, scholastic training; I studied briefly in the
60s with David Ward-Steinman at San Diego State College, and in New York at the
BMI writers workshop with Bob Brookmeyer and Manny Albam--and
lots of great orchestration books by Henry Mancini, Kent Kennan and
Ray Wright. I would say some of my major inspirations have been Gil
Evans, Maurice Ravel, Thad Jones, Horace Silver. It's most rewarding to
hear something in your head, or voice it on the piano, and then hear it
take shape and come to life with a band or orchestra."

Bill's compositions and/or arrangements have been recorded by:

Percy Faith (Columbia)

John Goldsby (Concord Jazz 4632) Three Short Stories (Mvt 1)
                                                      Three Short Stories (Mvt 2)
Woody Herman (Fantasy 9470)

Morgana King (Muse 5326) Will You Still Be Mine?
                                          Everytime We Say Goodbye
Bob Magnusson (Discovery/First Media 804/824)

Holiday Chamber Jazz Septet (CBC) Hear many clips at HCJS page

Shelly Manne (Trend 526/527)

Bill Mays (Trend 532; DMP 475/482; Jazz Alliance 10013;
Concord Jazz 4567/4626/4651; No Blooze Music #01; Palmetto 2070/2090/21122128)

Mark Murphy (Muse 5253/5355/5359) Boplicity

Turtle Creek Chorale (TCC Records)

Peter Weniger/Martin Wind (Nagel Heyer 2026)

Martin Wind (September 5116; "A" Records 73030)

Mike Wofford (Concord Jazz 4514)

Phil Woods (Denon 1316)

PUBLISHED COMPOSTIONS & ARRANGEMENTS

For Piano

Bill Mays Songbook
(12 Mays originals)

For Cello, Trumpet, Piano

Fantasy (in 3 movements)
Vocalise (Rachmaninoff)
Bachianas Brasilieras #5 Mvt. 1 (Villa Lobos)
Nuages (Reinhardt)
Delaware River Suite

For Flute & Piano
Suite for Flute & Piano

For Sextet (Piano, Bass, Drums, Trumpet, Alto Sax, Trombone)
Autumn in NY
Manhattan
NY State Of Mind
Sunday In NY
There's A Boat That's Leavin’ Shortly For New York

For 3 Contrabasses, Piano
Your Story
Peri’s Scope

For Symphony Orchestra, Featuring Tumpet & Piano Soloists
Play Song

For Big Band
Bick’s Bag
Play Song
Quietly

For 4 Woodwinds & Rhythm Section
The Christmas Song
Clair De Lune
Pavane (from "Mother Goose Suite")
Christmas Thanksgiving Prayer
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring

Available from Neil Kjos Publishing:
Blues Marx; Surprise Samba
For Jazz Quintet: (Piano, Bass, Drums, Trumpet, Saxophone

Available from Caris Music Services:
Three Short Stories
For Contrabass & Piano

Mavrodaphne’s Dance, Goodbye California, Play Song
For SATB Saxophone Quartet

Nutcracker Suite: 
Overture
March
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Dance of the Reed Flutes
Arab Dance
Waltz of the Flowers

For 4 Woodwinds & Rhythm Section 

Available from Ludwin Music Publication
If You Could See Me Now; Embraceable You
For 4 Contrabasses & Piano