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.

Performance calendar

March

April 2024

May

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2 Sullivan’s Steakhouse Benjamin May Duo Expired Sullivan’s Steakhouse Benjamin May Duo 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm I will be performing on piano with my nephew Nathan May, on bass. First set features Daniel May on piano and me on flute. Sullivans 600 Grant Street Lower, Lobby, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 For reservations, call: 412-775-4000 General Manager: Scott Watson Executive Chef: Aaron McGuire , ...
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4 Private Party Expired Private Party 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm , ...
5 Dr. James Johnson Jr. trio with the Pittsburgh Opera Expired Dr. James Johnson Jr. trio with the Pittsburgh Opera 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Dr. James Johnson Jr. and his trio: Benjamin May – bass and James Johnson III – drums with the Pittsburgh Opera company at: St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church, 444 Lincoln Ave, East Liberty, PA 15206 (412) 441-9706 , ...
6 Jam Session with Tony Campbell Expired Jam Session with Tony Campbell 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm I’ll be with saxophonist Tony Campbell, hosting the Jam session at Golden Age Beer Co. Tony Campbell – saxophone Eric Krouse – keyboards Benjamin May – bass David Hanson – drums For reservations, contact: pete@goldenagebeer.com 412-205-3635 See you there! , ... Trudy Holler jazz at the Breezeway Expired Trudy Holler jazz at the Breezeway 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm I’ll be with: Trudy Holler – vocals Don Aliquo Sr. – saxophone Mark Lucas – guitar and Benjamin May – bass. 7-10 7113 Reynolds St., Pittsburgh PA 15208 Tel: 412-805-4426 Email: thebreezewayhome@gmail.com , ...

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11 Rich Zabinski Trio Expired Rich Zabinski Trio 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm I will be performing on bass with guitarist, Eric Sosoeff and drummer Rich Zabinski. See you there! Phone: 412-775-4000 Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 600 Grant Street Lower, Lobby, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 General Manager: Scott Watson Executive Chef: Aaron McGuire , ...
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13 Grace Elliot duo at ShuBrew Expired Grace Elliot duo at ShuBrew 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Grace Elliot – Vocals Benjamin May – piano Phone: (724) 766-4426 Menu: toasttab.com , ... Jam Session with Tony Campbell Expired Jam Session with Tony Campbell 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm I’ll be with saxophonist Tony Campbell, hosting the Jam session at Golden Age Beer Co. Tony Campbell – saxophone Eric Krouse – keyboards Benjamin May – bass David Hanson – drums For reservations, contact: pete@goldenagebeer.com 412-205-3635 See you there! , ... Rich Zabinski trio Expired Rich Zabinski trio 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Rich Zabinski – drums Howie Alexander – keys Benjamin May – bass Ciappino – 2350 Railroad St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 cioppinoofpittsburgh.com 412 281 6593 Home , ...

14 Jazz at Emmanuel Expired Jazz at Emmanuel 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm I will be doing a special Jazz church service from 5:00-7:00 at Emmanuel Episcopal church. Here is the band: Dr. James T. Johnson Jr.- piano and Pamela Johnson vocals Tom Wendt – drums Benjamin May- bass Lou Schreiber – reeds Jazz at Emmanuel 412-231-0454 Emmanuel Episcopal Church 957 W. North AvenueP , ...
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16 Private Party Expired Private Party 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Private Party , ...
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19 Private Event Private Event 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
20 Jam Session with Tony Campbell Jam Session with Tony Campbell 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm I’ll be with saxophonist Tony Campbell, hosting the Jam session at Golden Age Beer Co. Tony Campbell – saxophone Eric Krouse – keyboards Benjamin May – bass David Hanson – drums For reservations, contact: pete@goldenagebeer.com 412-205-3635 See you there! , ...

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25 Rich Zabinski Trio Rich Zabinski Trio 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm I will be performing on bass with pianist Max Leake and drummer Rich Zabinski. See you there! Phone: 412-775-4000 Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 600 Grant Street Lower, Lobby, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 General Manager: Scott Watson Executive Chef: Aaron McGuire , ...
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27 Pat O’Donnell sextet Pat O’Donnell sextet 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm The Pat O’Donnell sextet is back again for another great show. Pat O’Donnell – Drums Benjamin May- Bass Jeff Kunkel – Piano Eric DeFade – Saxophone Alex Perez – Trumpet Kevin McManus – Trombone Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/W+Commons,+Pittsburgh,+PA+15212/@40.452 , ...

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30 Sullivan’s Steakhouse Benjamin May Duo Sullivan’s Steakhouse Benjamin May Duo 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm I will be performing on piano with my nephew Nathan May, on bass. First set features Daniel May on piano and me on flute. Sullivans 600 Grant Street Lower, Lobby, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 For reservations, call: 412-775-4000 General Manager: Scott Watson Executive Chef: Aaron McGuire , ...
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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

Artist	Album	Released	Label
Bill Elliot	The Bill Elliot Swing Orchestra featuring Vocalworks & Amy Weston	1994	Wayland Records
Dan St. Marseille	Retrospection	1995	Resurgent Music
Barbara Morrison	I Know How to Do It	1997	Chartmaker Records
Charles Rutherford	Collage	1997	Sea Breeze Records
Sherwood Sledge	Love Me By Name	1999	Maywood Records
Ron Escheté	The Beatles: Instrumental Jazz Tribute	2000	Sugo Records
Dewey Earney	Christmas Time is Here	2000	Resurgent Music
Beth Fitchet Wood	Silos	2001	Maywood Records
Judy Chamberlain	Road Trip	2002	JazzBabyRecords
Dragana	I Still Feel You	2002	CD Baby
Dewey Earney	Standards of Excellence, Volume 1, Dearly Beloved	2003	Resurgent Music
Dewey Earney	Standards of Excellence , Volume 3		Resurgent Music
The Baroqueleles	Meet the Baroqueleles	2005	CD Baby
The Baroqueleles	A Baroquelele Christmas	2005	CD Baby
Rick Blessing	I'm Just The Guy For You	2007
Janice Anderson	The Sweetest Sounds	2013	CD Baby
Brynn Stanley	Classic	2017	SonoPath 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.

BENJAMIN MAY

About Me

Performance calendar

April 2024

Sullivan’s Steakhouse Benjamin May Duo

Private Party

Dr. James Johnson Jr. trio with the Pittsburgh Opera

Jam Session with Tony Campbell

Trudy Holler jazz at the Breezeway

Rich Zabinski Trio

Grace Elliot duo at ShuBrew

Jam Session with Tony Campbell

Rich Zabinski trio

Jazz at Emmanuel

Private Party

Private Event

Jam Session with Tony Campbell

Rich Zabinski Trio

Pat O’Donnell sextet

Sullivan’s Steakhouse Benjamin May Duo

My Journey

Discography

Find Out More

Feeling Nostalgic?