WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — As part of the Visiting Artist Series, the Williams College Department of Music presents Michael Mayo Quartet on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m., in Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall on the college campus. This event is open to the public.
Mayo leans on his intuition as a vocalist, composer, songwriter, and arranger. He stretches his voice through layers of harmonizing, hard-hitting beatboxing, and heartfelt crooning.
The Los Angeles-based phenomenon creates from the heart without filter or pretense, allowing his voice to transmit raw emotion above an ever-evolving backdrop of jazz, neo-soul, and R&B on his second full-length LP, Fly [Mack Avenue Records/Artistry Music], and more to come.
“As improvisers, we sometimes talk about leaving space and following your second or third instinct,” he said. “Lately, I’ve been trying to challenge myself by going with my first instinct and seeing what sticks. Fly has been a fun experiment in that. There were different emotional zones I wanted to occupy, but I started a lot of those sounds with improv and followed that thread. I have a tendency to overthink. I decided to stop that before it began. I didn’t rush, but I treated everything with an immediacy—which goes against my nature as an overthinker. To me, this album feels very, ‘Let’s go’.”
Born and raised in Los Angeles, music surrounded him. As a sought-after background vocalist, his mother sang alongside Beyoncé, Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, and Whitney Houston. Meanwhile, his father not only sang, but also performed saxophone for Earth, Wind & Fire and horns for the likes of Sérgio Mendes.
Mayo attended the New England Conservatory of Music and The Thelonious Monk Institute at UCLA (now the Hancock Institute of Jazz). 2018 saw him make waves with the single “No More” [with Amber Navran]. Following his graduation, he unveiled his full-length debut, Bones, in 2021 and cumulatively generated millions of streams accelerated by “The Way” and “You and You.” Earning critical acclaim, Jazzwise rated it “4-stars,” and JAZZIZ raved, “Michael Mayo has developed his own lush, neo-soul sound that adroitly showcases his clear tenor, which glides over luxuriant clouds of his multi-tracked vocals.” He captivated audiences worldwide, headlining his own gigs and touring with the likes of Herbie Hancock. Not to mention, he even garnered the German Jazz Pride award.
In October 2023, he relocated from Brooklyn back to L.A. During January 2024, he retreated to Bunker Studio in Brooklyn, recording the Fly album in just two days with pianist Shai Maestro as well as Linda May Han Oh on upright and electric bass, and drummer Nate Smith.
Michael Mayo is presented by the Williams College Department of Music with the support of the W. Ford Schumann ’50 Performing Arts Endowment.
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