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

Monthly Weekly Daily List Tile

May 2025

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Private Party
4:30 pm - 8:00 pm
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Benjamin May duo
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Please come join me as I play nice jazz with- Maria Becotes-Bey – Vocals   Fairmont Hotel Located in: Three PNC Plaza Address: 510 Market St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Phone: (412) 773-8800 , ...
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Grace Elliot duo at ShuBrew
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Grace Elliot – Vocals Benjamin May – piano Phone: (724) 766-4426 205 S Main St, Zelienople, PA 16063 Menu: toasttab.com , ...
Pittsburgh Philharmonic concert
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
I will be playing principal Bass with the philharmonic for Mother’s day. Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center 3579 Masonic Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 , ...
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Benjamin May duo featuring Vocalist Mary Kay Riley
5:00 am - 7:00 pm
Mary Kay Riley – Vocalist Benjamin May – Piano Canopy Cafe Address: CR8H+V7, 799 Pinkerton Run Rd, Oakdale, PA 15071 Phone: (412) 444-4464 , ...
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Benjamin May live in recital!
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Please come check out this special event. I will be performing live in recital on the violin with my violin teacher Ms. Julia Simeone. It will be at PYCO school of music. Address: 150 Lake Dr Suite 103, Wexford, PA 15090 Phone: (724) 934-7529     , ...
Benjamin May duo
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Please come join me as I play nice jazz with- Anita Levels – Vocals   Fairmont Hotel Located in: Three PNC Plaza Address: 510 Market St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Phone: (412) 773-8800 , ...
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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   Matt Ferrante – Saxophone     For reservations, call: 412.392.8928 , ...
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Mode Indigo Live!
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Fairmont Hotel Located in: Three PNC Plaza Address: 510 Market St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Phone: (412) 773-8800 , ...
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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

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.