By Kerilie McDowall | Published March 2020
The importance of relationships hits home with Mays Plays Mays, where pianist Bill Mays celebrates family and friendships. Except for the Gershwins’ “How Long Has This Been Going On?” and a tribute to Mays written by pianist Chris Cuvier, the tracks all are Mays’ originals.
Backed by his longtime trio of bassist Martin Wind and drummer Matt Wilson, to whom Mays pays compositional tribute to on “MW2,” the collective adds trumpet/flugelhornist Marvin Stamm and guitarist John Hart for a couple tunes.
Mays’ melodic adventures capture a taste of historic piano greats, zoning in on a clever Lennie Tristano or a bluesy Thelonious Monk while potently hinting at the refined elegance of Bill Evans. Romantic lyrics written by Judy Kirtley (Mays’ wife) on his waltz “Play Song” spotlight the pianist on vocals. “Ten, Chelsea Evening,” written for Kirtley, is a soundscape of the Manhattan neighborhood that segues into Mays’ pensive piano, and Wind’s seductive arco and pizzicato bass. The pianist’s four-song suite, a tribute to his parents and siblings, features his inventive dedication to his father, “Whistling Pastor,” with a shape-shifting vignette motif based upon Mays’ father’s happy-go-lucky 10-note whistling melody. A celebratory piece for Greece, “Kalavrita,” showcases Mays happily singing to a danceable festive rhythm over his own Fender Rhodes, and accompanied by background singers, flugelhorn and the high-energy rhythm unit fading out a sunny finale.
Mays Plays Mays: Birthday Blues; Exuma; Mays In The Mirror; Jolie Joëlle; MW2; Play Song; Snow Job; How Long Has This Been Going On?; Ten, Chelsea Evening; For Woff; Martha; Whistling Pastor; Mark David; Eileen’s Birthday Waltz; Kalavrita. (67:35)
Personnel: Bill Mays, piano, Fender Rhodes, vocals; Martin Wind, bass; Matt Wilson, drums, percussion; Marvin Stamm, trumpet (1), flugelhorn (6, 15); John Hart, guitar (1, 5, 13); Margaret Dulaney Balitsaris, Judy Kirtley, Rose Litschauer, vocals (15).
