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
December

January 2025

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Service at First Baptist Church

Expired
Service at First Baptist Church
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Join us as we lift up His name in music and song. Dr. Billy D. Scott – Director of music ministries, piano Benjamin May – Acoustic and electric bass And the praise team. Located in: Schenley Farms Historic District Address: 159 N Bellefield Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Phone: (412) 621-0500 , ...

Con Alma with Etta Cox

Expired
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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Sullivan’s Steakhouse Rich Zabinski trio

Expired
Sullivan’s Steakhouse Rich Zabinski trio
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Rich Zabinski – Drums Bethany James – Vocals   Benjamin May – Piano     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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Service at First Baptist Church

Expired
Service at First Baptist Church
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Join us as we lift up His name in music and song. Dr. Billy D. Scott – Director of music ministries, piano Benjamin May – Acoustic and electric bass Special guest vocalist – Olya and the rest of the praise team. Located in: Schenley Farms Historic District Address: 159 N Bellefield Ave, Pittsbu , ...

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 James Johnson III – Drums Benjamin May- bass Lou Schreiber – reeds Jazz at Emmanuel 412-231-0454 Emmanuel Episcopal Church 957 W. North , ...
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Sullivan’s Steakhouse Mode Indigo live

Expired
Sullivan’s Steakhouse Mode Indigo live
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Mode Indigo – Olya – Vocals Benjamin May – Piano With special guest – Rich Zabinsky, Drums 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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Service at First Baptist Church

Expired
Service at First Baptist Church
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Join us as we lift up His name in music and song. Dr. Billy D. Scott – Director of music ministries, piano Benjamin May – Acoustic and electric bass Special guest vocalist – Olya and the rest of the praise team. Located in: Schenley Farms Historic District Address: 159 N Bellefield Ave, Pittsbu , ...
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Tony Campbell Jam session

Expired
Tony Campbell Jam session
6:00 am - 9:00 pm
Tony Campbell – Saxophone hosts the Monday Jam session at Con Alma with: John Shannon – Guitar Benjamin May – Bass Jason Washington – Drums Bring your horn or your axe and sit in with us! Located in: The Roosevelt Building Address: 613 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Hours:  Opens 5 , ...
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Sullivan’s Steakhouse Heidi Beatty and Benjamin May duo

Sullivan’s Steakhouse Heidi Beatty and Benjamin May duo
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Heidi Beatty- Vocals       Benjamin May – Piano     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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Rich Zabinski Quartet

Rich Zabinski Quartet
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Come see me with the Rich Zabinski quartet at Kingfly spirits in the Strip District. Rich Zabinski- drums Howie Alexander- piano Benjamin May- bass   Jeff Bush – trombone   For reservations, call: 412.392.8928 , ...
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Service at First Baptist Church

Service at First Baptist Church
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Join us as we lift up His name in music and song. Dr. Billy D. Scott – Director of music ministries, piano Benjamin May – Acoustic and electric bass Special guest vocalist – Olya and the rest of the praise team. Located in: Schenley Farms Historic District Address: 159 N Bellefield Ave, Pittsbu , ...
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Mode Indigo live at Sullivans steakhouse

Mode Indigo live at Sullivans steakhouse
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Olya – Vocals, Benjamin May – Keyboard     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

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