BENJAMIN MAY

Musician, Arranger, Music Educator

About Me

After many years of classical training, I moved to the Los Angeles area to pursue performing jazz full time. With 35 years and 14,000+ performances in LA, I have amassed a great deal of real life experience on the stage that I use to enrich and encourage the students I work with. In addition, I worked as an instrumental aid, full time, for over 20 years in Long Beach Unified School District.

In 2023, I relocated to Pittsburgh and I am now actively a part of the jazz scene. In 2024, I became a member of the Pittsburgh Philharmonic as principal bass.

Schedule

Performance calendar

Monthly Weekly Daily List Tile
November

December 2025

January
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Chordless Trio at De Fer Coffee

Ongoing
Chordless Trio at De Fer Coffee
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Scott Boni – Saxophone Benjamin May – Bass Ross Antonich – Drums 2nd set – jam session so bring your horn or your axe or your voice. De Fer Coffee & Tea 2002 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Phone: (412) 209-2226 Menu: de-fer-coffee-tea.square.site , ...
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Con Alma with Etta Cox

Con Alma with Etta Cox
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Etta Cox – Vocals Mark Strickland – Guitar Benjamin May – Bass John Korpiel – Drums   Address: 613 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Phone: (412) 932-2387 Menu: conalmapgh.com Reservations: exploretock.com , ...
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Private Party

Private Party
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
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Etta Cox Monroeville Arts Council

Etta Cox Monroeville Arts Council
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Etta Cox – Vocals Kevin Moore – Piano Benjamin May – Bass John Korpiel – Drums Address: 595 Beatty Rd, Monroeville, PA 15146 Phone: (724) 327-1327 , ...
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Private Party

Private Party
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
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Private Party

Private Party
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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Live music for the Vanka Murals tour

Live music for the Vanka Murals tour
6:30 am - 8:00 pm
I will be performing a special event on piano with cellist David Bennet at St. Nicolas Croatian church in Millvale. Tickets will go fast for this so make sure to get them early if you want to attend. St. Nicholas Croatian Church is a Roman Catholic church in Millvale, Pennsylvania, US within the Diocese of Pittsburgh. , ...
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John Seybert saxophone quartet

John Seybert saxophone quartet
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Here is a treat if you are in the mood for some holiday jazz. John Seybert – and his saxophone quartet, along with: Billy Scott – piano Benjamin May – Bass Pat O’Donnell – Drums Address: 6165 Steubenville Pike, McKees Rocks, PA 15136 Phone: (412) 787-1818 , ...
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My Journey

As a freelance bassist, I have worked with countless singers and music groups ranging from full big bands or symphony orchestras, to small combos like quintets or as small as a duo. Some notables I have performed with include: Joe Pass, Rosemary Clooney, Anita O’Day, Annie Ross, Bonnie Raitt, Ben Vereen, Bill Henderson, Barbara Morrison, Llew Matthews, Johnny Crawford, Bill Elliot, Al Viola, Frank Sinatra Jr., Seth MacFarlane, just to name a few. A have also opened for Joe Zawinul, and Tony Bennett. As a recording artist, I have recorded on over 40 CDs for various artists and projects.
Discography

Discography

ArtistAlbumReleasedLabel
Bill ElliotThe Bill Elliot Swing Orchestra featuring Vocalworks & Amy Weston1994Wayland Records
Dan St. MarseilleRetrospection1995Resurgent Music
Barbara MorrisonI Know How to Do It1997Chartmaker Records
Charles RutherfordCollage1997Sea Breeze Records
Sherwood SledgeLove Me By Name1999Maywood Records
Ron EschetéThe Beatles: Instrumental Jazz Tribute2000Sugo Records
Dewey EarneyChristmas Time is Here2000Resurgent Music
Beth Fitchet WoodSilos2001Maywood Records
Judy ChamberlainRoad Trip2002JazzBabyRecords
DraganaI Still Feel You2002CD Baby
Dewey EarneyStandards of Excellence, Volume 1, Dearly Beloved2003Resurgent Music
Dewey EarneyStandards of Excellence , Volume 3Resurgent Music
The BaroquelelesMeet the Baroqueleles2005CD Baby
The BaroquelelesA Baroquelele Christmas2005CD Baby
Rick BlessingI'm Just The Guy For You2007
Janice AndersonThe Sweetest Sounds2013CD Baby
Brynn StanleyClassic2017SonoPath Productions

Find Out More

My musical hobbies include being a multi-instrumentalist, collecting instruments, arranging and composing, and expanding my musical horizons to new influences and opportunities to learn and grow as a musician.

Feeling Nostalgic?

Check out our beautiful jazz ensemble, Mode Indigo. Nostalgic music with a twist for special occasions.

Mode Indigo
Mode Indigo