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Discography

Intersection (SBE Records)

Road Work Ahead:
Bill Mays, piano
Peter Sprague, guitar
Bob Magnusson, bass
Jim Plank, drums
Recorded February 2012

Inch Worm (F. Loesser) To hear audio clip click here
The Very Thought Of You (R. Noble) To hear audio clip click here
You Go To My Head (J. Coots)
And I Love Her (P. McCartney) To hear audio clip click here
Wall Street (P. Sprague) To hear audio clip click here
Saudade de Voce (P. Sprague) To hear audio clip click here
There's A Small Hotel (R. Rodgers) To hear audio clip click here
Estate (B. Martino)
Wynton's Motif (B. Magnusson)
Our Waltz (D. Rose)

 

Sondheim Duos

Tommy Cecil, bass
Bill Mays, piano
Recorded May, 2012

Something's Coming (Sondheim/Bernstein)
Not While I'm Around (Sondheim)
Broadway Baby (Sondheim)
Every Day A Little Death (Sondheim)
Ballad Of Sweeney Todd (Sondheim)
Small World (Sondheim/Styne)
Side By Side By Side (Sondheim)
Anyone Can Whistle (Sondheim)
Comedy Tonight (Sondheim)
To hear audio clips and to order, click here

Phil & Bill (Palmetto 2150)

Bill Mays, piano
Phil Woods, alto saxophone
Recorded September, 2010

All This And Heaven Too (J. Van Heusen) To hear audio clip click here
Blues for Lopes (P. Woods)
Danielle (A. Cohn)
Do I Love You? (R. Rodgers)
Hank Jones (P. Woods)
I'm All Smiles (M. Leonard)
How Long Has This Been Going On? (G. Gershwin) To hear audio clip click here
The Best Thing For You Would Be Me (I. Berlin)To hear audio clip click here
Our Waltz (D. Rose)
To read Doug Ramsey's Rifftides review click here
To read Dave Bilawsky's AllAboutJazz review click here

 



 


 

Mays at the Movies (SteepleChase 31684)

Bill Mays, piano, vocal**
Billy Drummond, drums
Peter Washington, bass
Recorded March, 2009
 
I've Never Been In Love Before (Loesser - Guys And Dolls) To hear audio clip click here
The Shadow Of Your Smile (Mandel -The Sandpiper)
Pure Imagination (Bricusse/Newley - Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory) To hear audio clip click here
Love theme from Spartacus (North -Spartacus) To hear audio clip click here
Judy (Mays - Burn After Reading and Anamorph)
The Summer Knows (Legrand - Summer Of '42) To hear audio clip click here
ThereÕs A Small Hotel (Rodgers - Pal Joey)
You Leave Me Breathless** (Hollander - Coconut Grove)
Charade (Mancini - Charade)

 

 

 

SOLO! Bill Mays (DVD)

Bill Mays, piano
Recorded January, 2008

Cool Struttin' (S. Clark) To view video clip click here
Conception (G. Shearing)
Looking Back (J. Rowles) To view video clip click here
Dolphin Dance (H. Hancock)
Interview
Freight Trane (T. Flanagan)
Waltz For Debby (B. Evans) To view video clip click here
Pensativa (C. Fischer) To view video clip click here
Monk's Mood (T. Monk)


Filmed in three-camera, high-definition color before a live television audience.

"This is my first solo recording in fifteen years and my first solo DVD. I chose music by several pianists who were important to me, who inspired and influenced me early in my career."

 

 

 

Stuffy Turkey
 
Bill Mays Trio
Five Stars Records FSY-512
Rec. December 21, 2009, Tokyo, Japan
Bill Mays, piano
Mattias Svensson, bass
Joe La Barbera, drums

With A Song In My Heart (R. Rodgers)

Luiza (A. C. Jobim)

The Lamp Is Low  (Parish/de Rose))

You Must Believe In Spring (M. Le Grand)

Blues For Five Stars (B. Mays)

Poor Butterfly  (R. Hubbell)

I Didn't Know What Time It Was (R. Rodgers)

Pavane, from Mother Goose Suite (M. Ravel)

Stuffy Turkey (T. Monk)

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (Sherwin/Maschwitz) 

 

To hear audio samples & to purchase, click  here




 
Blue Rondo a la Turk

Keisuke Ohta, violin
Bill Mays, piano
Five Stars Records FSY-511
Rec. December, 2009, Tokyo, Japan 

Souvenir de Villingen (S. Grapelli)

La Plus que Lente (C. Debussy)

Violin Taksim (K. Ohta)

Blue Rondo a la Turk (D. Brubeck)

Euterpe (B. Mays)

Pent Up House (S. Rollins)

In A Sentimental Mood (D. Ellington)

Oriental Shuffle (D. Reinhardt)

Tanga (D. Gillespie)

Oblivion (A. Piazzolla)

East & West [improv.] (K. Ohta/B. Mays)

 

To hear audio samples & to purchase, click  here

 

The Best Is Yet To Come
Bill Mays Trio
Five Stars Records FSY-510
Rec. October 9, 2009, Yokohama, Japan
Bill Mays, piano, vocal**
Ryu Kawamura, bass
Joe La Barbera, drums

 

The Best Is Yet To Come (Coleman)
Jitterbug Waltz (Waller)
These Foolish Things (Strachey/Link)
Here's That Rainy Day (Van Heusen)
Moanin' (Timmons)
Send In The Clowns (Sondheim)
Speak Low (Weill)
Willow Weep For Me (Ronell)
Get Out Of Town (Porter) **

To hear audio samples & to purchase, click  here

 

 


Delaware River Suite
Inventions Trio
No Blooze Music #02
Rec. 2007/2008, NYC/PA
Bill Mays, piano, arrangements
Marvin Stamm, trumpet and flugelhorn
Alisa Horn, cello

Zingaro (Jobim)
Sippin' At Bells/Dance Of The Infidels (Davis/Powell)
Delaware River Suite (Mays):

    Prologue/Narrowsburg Deep
Listen mp3
    Rapid Ride at Skinner's Falls Listen mp3
    Float
    Shohola Hoedown & Campfire Listen mp3
    Rollin' Down The Water Gap

    Philadelphia
    Towards The Sea Listen mp3
Bachianas Brasilieras #5 Mvt. I (Villa Lobos)
Charlotte Delights (Stamm)

Nuages (Reinhardt)
Listen mp3






Fantasy
Inventions Trio
Palmetto #2128
Rec. 2005, NYC

Bill Mays, piano, arrangements
Marvin Stamm, trumpet and flugelhorn
Alisa Horn, cello

 
Baubles, Bangles and Beads (Borodin)
Vocalise (Rachmaninoff)   Listen mp3
Fantasy for Cello, Trumpet & Piano (Mays)
        Mvt. 1  Listen mp3
        Mvt. 2
        Mvt. 3
Piano Prelude #2 (Gershwin)
Prelude op. 11 #3/Sometime Ago (Scriabin/Mahanovich)
Listen mp3
Girl With The Flaxen Hair (Debussy)  Listen mp3
Invention #8/Scrapple From The Apple & Ah-Leu-Cha (Bach/Parker)






Live At Jazz Standard
Bill Mays Trio
Palmetto Records
Rec. 12/04, NYC
 
Bill Mays, piano
Martin Wind, bass
Matt Wilson, drums
 
Have You Met Miss Jones? (Rodgers/Hart) Listen mp3
Squeeze Me (Ellington) Listen mp3
How Are Things In Glocca Morra? (Harburg/Lane)
Darn That Dream (Van Heusen/Delange) Listen mp3
Music House (Mays)
LetÕs Call This (Monk)
Euterpe (Mays)
Willow Weep For Me (Ronell)
When Will The Blues Leave? (Coleman)
Smile (Chaplin)
 
 
 
 
By Ourselves 
Marstam Music #01
Rec. NYC 2003
Marvin Stamm, trumpet & flugelhorn
Bill Mays, piano
 
By Myself (Dietz/Schwartz)
You And The Night And The Music (Dietz/Schwartz) Listen mp3
The Lamp Is Low (Ravel) Listen mp3
The Widow In The Window (Wheeler)
Judy (Mays)
Beautiful Love (Young)
Waltz For Mia (Nash)
You Must Believe In Spring (LeGrand) Listen mp3
Airegin (Rollins) Listen mp3
Madrugada (Mays)
Con Alma  (Gillespie)


 
 
 

Beyond The Red Door
Jazzed Media
Rec. NYC 2006
Bud Shank, alto sax
Bill Mays, piano
 
Red Door (Sims/Mulligan) Listen mp3
The Wind/The Peacocks (Freeman/Rowles)
Why Not Now? (Shank)
Quietly (Mays)
The Touch Of Your Lips (Noble) Listen mp3
I Loves You Porgy (Gershwin)
Carousels (Shank)
Everything I Love (Porter) Listen mp3
Where Or When (Rodgers & Hart)
 
 
 
Going Home
  
Bill Mays Trio
Palmetto #2090
Recorded July, 2002
 
Bill Mays, piano, (vocal on IÕm A Homebody)
Matt Wilson, drums
Martin Wind, bass
 
Judy (Mays)
YouÕd Be So Nice To Come Home To (Porter) Listen mp3
Shohola Song (Sommer)
Home (Clarkson/Van Steeden)
On The Road (Mays) Listen mp3
Shoho Love Song (Mays) - Free M3 Download (Right click to save)
Nosey Neighbors (Rowles)
In Her Arms (Mays) Listen mp3
CominÕ Home Baby (Dorough/Tucker)
Going Home (Dvorak)
IÕm A Homebody (Mitchell)

The horrible events of September 11 occurred as I was thinking about material for this CD. With all the time I spend on the road, coming back home feels all the more meaningful and precious. I wrote four things that reflect this and thereÕre a couple of home standards; the title track is from DvorakÕs New World symphony and I sing Red MitchellÕs IÕm A Homebody to close out the proceedings! The CD is dedicated to three of my heroes: Red, Shelly Manne and Jiimmy Rowles. As on ÒSummer SketchesÓ I really love the natural and warm sound Matt Balitsaris got on the Steinway piano and the trio. Great recorded sound--and in the CD booklet some beautiful scenic photography by Judy Kirtley!


 
 
 


Summer Sketches

Bill Mays Trio
Palmetto #2070
Recorded October, 2000
Bill Mays, piano
Matt Wilson, drums
Martin Wind, bass
 
Summer Night (Warren)
Estate [Summer] (Bruno/Marghetti) Listen mp3
Fireflies (Mays)
Indian Summer (Herbert)
Summer Sketch (Freeman)
(Gotta Go To) Summer School (Wilson) Listen mp3
Early August (Wind)
The Things We Did Last Summer (Styne/Cahn)
Summer Serenade (Carter)
Once Upon A Summertime (LeGrand) Listen mp3
 
I always wanted to do a CD about summerÑso many great tunes. The title track is Russ FreemanÕs tone poem from the 50Õs; Benny CarterÕs Summer Serenade is a lot of fun to blow on, and I love the trioÕs group improv on Once Upon a Summertime. Other highlights: some free-blowing piano-plucking on Fireflies, Matt WilsonÕs twisted-blues Summer School, Martin WindÕs beautiful melodic writing and soloing on Early August; itÕs so much fun playing with these guys: great musicians, listening and responding so beautifully--it always feels fresh and full of surprises.


 
 
 
Mays In Manhattan 
Bill Mays Trio & Sextet
Concord Jazz #4738
Recorded May, 1996

Bill Mays, piano
Tim Horner, drums
Sean Smith, bass
Jon Gordon, alto saxophone
Ed Neumeister, trombone
Marvin Stamm, trumpet/flugelhorn

Manhattan (Rodgers & Hart) Listen mp3
Summer In Central Park (Silver)
Upper Manhattan Medical Group (Strayhorn)
New York State Of Mind (Joel) Listen mp3
All Across The City (Hall)
Sunday In New York (Nero) Listen mp3
317 E. 32nd St. (Tristano)
Autumn In New York (Duke) Listen mp3
Õ39 WorldÕs Fair (Smith)
 
I love writing for a 3-horn front line and trying to get a little big band sound. This is a New York Prime horn sectionÑGordon, Neumeister, StammÑall great ensemble players as well as soloists, and each one so totally different from the others; plus, two more of my favorite rhythm section players, and Smith contributed a gem of a NYC tune. ** THIS CD OUT-OF-PRINT. "BURNED" COPIES ONLY ARE AVAILABLE. EMAIL BILL FOR INFORMATION **
 
  
 
 Bill Mays Live at Maybeck Recital Hall
Concord Jazz #4567
Recorded September, 1992
Bill Mays, solo piano
 
A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square (Sherwin/Maschwitz)
I Wish I Knew (Warren) 
Stompin' At The Savoy (Goodman/Sampson/Webb) Listen mp3
Boardwalk Blues (Mays) Listen mp3
Lush Life (Strayhorn)
IÕm ConfessinÕ That I Love You (Neiburg/Cougherty/Reynolds)
Guess IÕll Hang My Tears Out To Dry (Styne/Cahn) Listen mp3
Jitterbug Waltz (Waller) Listen mp3
Thanksgiving Prayer (Mays)
Why Did I Choose You?/Never Let Me Go (Leonard/Livingston)
Grandpa's Spells (Morton)
It was an honor to be part of this respected solo piano series. Maybeck ÒHallÓ was not really a hall; it was an extended living room in a Berkeley, CA home -- a piano teacher who wanted a recital space for her students. It had the warmth and charm of a home, with high ceilings and great acoustics, and the piano I recorded on was a special Òlimited-editionÓ hand-made Yamaha. I had no planned programÑpreceding the date IÕd been traveling doing solo concerts so I brought in a list of material and just played what hit me at the momentÑsome classic favorites of mine, a couple of originals; playing solo gives a different kind of freedom than in larger groups, so there are a few surprise modulations and mood shifts, and loving Fats, Tatum and JP like I do some stride and boogie-woogie also came out that day. ** THIS CD OUT-OF-PRINT. "BURNED" COPIES ONLY ARE AVAILABLE. EMAIL BILL FOR INFORMATION **
 
 
 


 
On The Road Again
Road Work Ahead
SBE REcords
Rec. San Diego, CA 2004
 
Bill Mays, piano
Jim Plank, drums, percussion
Peter Sprague, guitar 
Bob Magnusson, bass
 
Thea's Laughter (Magnusson)
Samba for Shelly (Plank)
Euterpe (Mays)
Bird's Blues [Relaxin' at Camarillo/Cheryl/Perhaps] (Parker) Listen mp3
In The Garden (Miles) Listen mp3
As It Is, As You Are (Sprague)
Modinha (Jobim)
Just A Little Nine Eight (Plank)
Broken Ties (Magnusson)
A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square (Sherwin/Maschwitz) Listen mp3
Bark, Bark (Plank)     ** THIS CD OUT-OF-PRINT. "BURNED" COPIES ONLY ARE AVAILABLE. EMAIL BILL FOR INFORMATION **
 
 
 
 
 

Complete Discography

Many CDs listed here are out of print and/or off the shelves. Bill may have limited copies of some CDs. Please email him with your request.

AS A LEADER/CO-LEADER:

(++ also denotes: produced, arranged and/or composed by Bill Mays)

A Musical Cocktail
Bill Mays (solo piano)
MRC 1976

Explorations
++ w/Bud Shank
Concord Concerto 1979

Night And Day
++ Road Work Ahead
w/Peter Sprague, Jim Plank & Bob Magnusson
Trend 1980

Two Of A Mind
++ Bill Mays & Red Mitchell
ITI 1982

Tha's Delights
++ Bill Mays Quintet
w/Shelly Manne, Andy Simpkins, Tom Harrell, Ralph Moore
Trend 1983

Kaleidoscope
++ Bill Mays Quintet
w/Jeff Hirshfield, Harvie Swartz, Peter Sprague, Dick Oatts
Jazz Alliance 1989

One To One
++ Bill Mays & Ray Drummond
DMP 1989

One To One 2
++ Bill Mays & Ray Drummond
DMP 1990

Live At Maybeck Hall
++ Bill Mays (solo piano)
Concord Jazz 1992

Bill Mays/Ed Bickert At Maybeck
++ Bill Mays & Ed Bickert
Concord Jazz 1994

An Ellington Affair
++ Bill Mays Trio
w/Lewis Nash, John Goldsby
Concord Jazz 1994

StridinÕ In Five
++ Bill Mays (solo piano on 3.5Ó diskette)
Virtuoso 1995

Mays In Manhattan
++ Bill Mays Trio/Sextet
w/Tim Horner, Sean Smith, Marvin Stamm, Jon Gordon, Ed Neumeister
Concord Jazz 1996

Out In Pa.
++ Bill Mays Trio
w/Martin Wind, Matt Wilson
No Blooze Music 1999

By Ourselves
++w/Marvin Stamm
Marstam 1999

Summer Sketches
++ Bill Mays Trio
w/Martin Wind, Matt Wilson
Palmetto 2000

Going Home
++ Bill Mays Trio
w/Martin Wind, Matt Wilson
Palmetto 2002

AS A SIDEMAN:

(++ also denotes: produced, arranged and/or composed by Bill Mays)

2 A.M. Paradise Cafe
Barry Manilow
Arista

2 Generations Of Music
Bob Magnusson
Trend (now First Media)

9113 Michael Vlatkovich
Michael Vlatkovich
Thank You Records

A Good Thing
Allen Mezquida
Koch Jazz

A Song For You
++ Dianne Mower
Jazz City (Japan & Europe)

A Time In My Life
Sarah Vaughan
Mainstream

Alone On My Own
Maxine Weldon
Monument

Beauty And The Beast
++ Mark Murphy
Muse

Bending Towards The Light
Bob Kindred, et. al
Conawago

Bird Raga
Peter Sprague
Xanadu

Bop For Kerouac
++ Mark Murphy
Muse

California Message
Benny Golson
Baystate (RVC Japan)

Carolyn Leonhart: Vol. 1 & 2
Carolyn Leonhart
Toshiba-EMI(Japan)

Charles Cochran Meets Bill Mays
Charles Cochran
Audiophile

Class Reunion
Bobby Shew
Sutra

Collective Consciousness
Gordon Brisker
Sutra

Conversations
Bruce Eskovitz
Azica

Crazy Eyes
Mary Foster Conklin
Mock Turtle Music 00219

Crystal Comments
Bud Shank & Alan Broadbent
Concord Jazz

Dianne Mower & Norman Johnson w/The New Millennium Jazz Ensemble
(NME 1001)\

Dionne
Dionne Warwick
Arista

Double Piano Quartet:Vol. 1 & 2
++ Shelly Manne (with Alan Broadbent)
Discovery

Dream A Little Dream Of Me
Gerry Mulligan
Telarc

Eight
Walter Blanton quintet
TNC Jazz 1705

Extensions
Manhattan Transfer
Atlantic

Family
Martin Wind 5tet (w/Matt Wilson, Ingrid Jensen, Rich Perry)
Challenge

Gentle Fire
Wilton Felder
MCA

Golden Palm
Jeff Jarvis
Optimism

Gone With The Wind
Martin Wind Trio
September (Europe)

Heritage
Bud Shank
Concord

Hidden Treasures
Bob Kindred
Music for the World Foundation 1003

I Hear Music
Catherine Dupuis
JBQ

Jazz Celebration
Carl Jefferson Tribute
Concord

Kerouac, Then And Now
++ Mark Murphy
Muse

Love Story [& other titles]
Various New York pianists
Cinematic Jazz Vol. 1-24(Japan)

Marvin Stamm/Ed Soph Project
w/Rufus Reid, Dave Liebman
Marstam

Moments
Catharine Dupuis
Bearheart

My Old Flame
Lew Tabackin
Atlas (Japan)

My One And Only
Trudy Desmond
Justin Time

Nutcracker Suite
++ Manhattan Chamber Jazz Septet
Jazz City Spirit (Japan)

On The Trail
Bud Shank Sextet (w/Condoli, Thomas, LaBarbera, Magnusson)
Raw Records

One Day Forever
Shirley Horn
Arkadia

One For Junior
Sheila Jordan & Mark Murphy
Muse

One For Newk
Bruce Eskovitz
Koch Jazz

One More Mem'ry
Benny Golson
Baystate (RVC Japan)

Outstanding In His Field
++ Bobby Shew
Inner City

Play Song
++ Bobby Shew
Jazzhounds (defunct)

Rappin' It Up
++ Scott Scheer
Palo Alto

Revelation
++ Bob Magnusson
Discovery (now First Media)

Ride Like The Wind
Freddie Hubbard
Electra Musician

Road Work Ahead
++ Bob Magnusson
Discovery (now First Media)

Ron McCroby Plays Puccolo
Ron McCroby
Concord

Say What?
Wayne Darling & Arni Egilsson
SOS Music

Sherrie Maricle
Sherrie Maricle w/Appleyard, Mays, Seaton
LRC

Shewhorn
Bobby Shew
Pausa

Silver Storm
Bud Shank Sextet (w/Condoli, Perkins, LaBarbera, Magnusson)
Raw Records

Simply Eloquent
++ Morgana King
Muse

Super Septet with Kenny Garrett et al
Sweet Basil (Japan)

Super Trombone 96 with Dave Bargeron, Eddie Gomez, et al
Sweet Basil (Japan)

SÕwonderful
Dina Blade
Pony Boy 50129-2

Symphonic Dreams
Gerry Mulligan & Houston Symphony
PAR

Tale Of The Fingers
++ John Goldsby Quartet
Concord Jazz

Tales Of Two Cities
Jerry Tilitz
Bellaphon (Japan & Europe)

Telepathy
++ Bobby Shew
Jazzhounds (defunct)

Tender Waves
Martin Wind Trio
ÓAÓ Records (Challenge Records) 73030

The Other Whistler
Ron McCroby
Concord

The Path
Peter Sprague
Xanadu

The Soccerball
Peter Weniger & Martin Wind
Nagel Heyer

Turning To Spring
++ Howard Roberts
Discovery (now First Media)

Who Is This Bitch, Anyway?
Marlena Shaw
Blue Note

YouÕd Be Paradise
Mary Foster Conklin
Mock Turtle Music

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDINGS (HOLLYWOOD CIRCA 1970-1984):

Andy
Andy Williams
Columbia

Christmas Present
Andy Williams
Columbia

Even Now
Barry Manilow
Arista

Finders Keepers
Kathie Lee Johnson
Petra

Gator
Charles Bernstein (Movie Soundtrack)
United Artists

Harnell
Joe Harnell
Capitol

If I Should Love Again
Barry Manilow
Arista

Jesus, You Are My Friend
Sharalee Lucas
Petra Records

Love And Life
Morris Albert
RCA

Love Will Keep Us Together
Ray Conniff
Columbia

Magic
Dick St. Nicklaus
Epic

Nadia's Theme
Barry Devorzon
Arista

New Season
Donny & Marie Osmond
Polydor

New York, New York
Bill Tole Orchestra
Calliope

Oh! Brother
Larry Gatlin
Monument

One Voice
Barry Manilow
Arista

Sharkey's Machine
Movie Soundtrack
Warner Brothers

Sons Of The Kingdom
Paul Johnson Singers
Petra

The Entertainer
Percy Faith
Columbia

The Outer Kingdom
Bobby King
Del Fi

The Quiet Riot
Kathie Epstein
Petra

You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
Ray Conniff
Columbia

ON VIDEO:

2 A.M. Paradise Cafe
Barry Manilow (with Gerry Mulligan, George Duvivier, Shelly Manne, Mundell Lowe, Sarah Vaughan, Mel Torme)

Mays & Mitchell Play Monk
with Red Mitchell
PBS-TV

Mays & Mitchell: Alone Together
with Red Mitchell
PBS-TV

Road Work Ahead:Carnival Suite
Road Work Ahead Quartet
PBS-TV

Studio Live
Freddie Hubbard

NorthSea Jazz Festival
Gerry Mulligan Quartet

 

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