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.

pittsburgh philharmonic podcast

Hosted by Benjamin May, Principal Bass of the Pittsburgh Philharmonic, this podcast explores the history of the orchestra and features interviews with its musicians.

Performance calendar

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18 DonAliquo Sr. and Don Aliquo Jr. at Uncorked DonAliquo Sr. and Don Aliquo Jr. at Uncorked 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm I am really excited to play with all of these musicians. Don Aliquo Sr. and Don Aliquo Jr. Also with: Eric Susoeff – guitar Benjamin May – Bass Address: 703 Main St, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 Phone: (412) 408-3038 Reservations: spotapps.co , ...
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27 Etta Cox Live Jazz brunch Etta Cox Live Jazz brunch 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Etta Cox – Vocals Kevin Moore – keyboards Mark Strickland – Guitar Benjamin May – Double Bass John Korpiel – Drums City Winery Located in: Strip District Terminal Address: 1627 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Phone: (412) 246-1000 Menu: citywinery.com Reservatio , ...

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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.