The artistry of Bill Mays is beyond category. With deep roots in jazz, gospel, pop and classical music his eclectic career as pianist, composer and arranger spans the last four decades. Along with over 100 recordings (including thirteen under his own name) Bill's concert and studio credits include collaboration with artists as diverse as Ron Carter, Aretha Franklin, Benny Golson, Freddie Hubbard, Al Jarreau, Barry Manilow, Shelly Manne, Red Mitchell, Gerry Mulligan, Art Pepper, Bud Shank, Frank Sinatra, Marvin Stamm, Sonny Stitt, Toots Thielemans, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Sarah Vaughan, Paul Winter, Phil Woods and Frank Zappa.
Bill's keyboard work has been heard on numerous TV and film soundtracks, among them Adaptation, Being John Malkovich, CBS Early Morning, Dallas, Fargo, Frida, Interview With The Vampire, Kojak, Late Night with Jay Leno, Lethal Weapon, Mission To Mars, Name That Tune, Rocky, Rosie O'Donnell, Shaft 2, Simone, Sleepless In Seattle and Superman. Well-known for his compositional and arranging talents he has written saxophone quartets, suites for flute and piano, bass and piano, a jazz woodwind version of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, music for the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, Aureole chamber ensemble, Woody Herman Band, Robert DeNiro's Tribeca, and incidental music for the film, Hamlet. Bill is a Grammy nominee and has received grants from Meet The Composer, the N.E.A. and the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation. He's a Steinway Piano Artist, a PennPAT roster artist, and records for the Palmetto label. A native Californian, Bill now splits his time between homes in New York City and northeastern Pennsylvania.
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