Bones (Mack Avenue)
Michael Mayo
Released June 2021
JAZZ FM 25 Best Jazz Albums of 2021
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l8dBa7ue5dgiyyyWIzbw70aLKeqmFoTh0
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/70RkyEuMjhRnbTQe1Md7os?si=Bu13xoGRS9K9l_Ej6c45QQ
About:
Virtuosic vocalist/composer and international performer, Michael Mayo establishes himself as one of the most acclaimed and versatile voices in music today, with his label debut, Bones on Artistry Music/Mack Avenue Music Group. Produced by Eli Wolf (Norah Jones, J Dilla, Robert Glasper, Maceo Parker). Michael is a gifted singer and arranger who is only the third vocalist ever accepted into the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz (now the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz) in its 20-year history. Michael moves with ease between interpreting classics with a small group or big band, to creating experimental and improvisational solo compositions that can have as many as 250 looped and layered vocal lead and choral harmony parts. Michael has toured internationally with Herbie Hancock and he’s been the featured vocalist on the following artists’ releases: Kneebody, Scary Pockets, Amber Navran.
Track Listing:
1. The Way (Jacob Mann / Michael Mayo) 04:08
2. You and You (Michael Mayo) 05:22
3. Another Love (Michael Mayo) 06:33
4. Stolen Moments (Michael Mayo) 04:54
5. About Your Love (Michael Mayo / Chris McCarthy) 06:42
6. Silver and Gold (Michael Mayo) 02:48
7. Robot Man (Michael Mayo / Becca Stevens 04:28
8. 20/20 (Michael Mayo) 06:06
9. Bones (Michael Mayo) 03:46
10. What’s My Name (Michael Mayo) 07:02
11. Hold On (Michael Mayo / Scott Mayo / Valerie Pinkston) 01:27
Personnel:
Michael Mayo: vocals, handclaps (1, 5, 10), beatboxing (4), programming (6, 7), vocal percussion (7, 10), whistle (7)
Andrew Freedman: keyboards (1-3, 5-8, 10), synthesizers (1-3, 5-10), piano (2-9), electric guitar (9), handclaps (10)
Nick Campbell: electric bass (1-3, 5-10), synth bass (1-3, 7-10), electric guitar (7), handclaps (10)
Robin Baytas: drums (1-3, 5, 7-10), handclaps (10)
Eli Wolf: programming (6, 8)
Scott Mayo: vocals (11)
Valerie Pinkston: vocals (11)
Recorded August – September 2019, at Figure 8 Studios Brooklyn, NY
Producer: Eli Wolf
Co-producer: Michael Mayo
Recording and Mixing: Teddy Tuthill
Mastering: Greg Calbi
Photography: Shervin Lainez
Design: Raj Naik
Review:
Michael Mayo’s Bones is, in a word, gorgeous. His influences? … “I listened to Pet Sounds a lot in college, grew up on A Tribe Called Quest, the Fugees, Busta Rhymes, Biggie Smalls and J Dilla. They all seem inherently connected. Why not mix them all together and see what happens?” His parents sang and played with Luther Vandross, Earth Wind & Fire, Diana Ross and more, and it’s clearly in his DNA. Start with The Way and go from there.
Dani Elwell (JAZZ.FM91)
