COMPOSING/ARRANGING

"I've been composing and arranging for as long as I can remember. Half the time I write just for pleasure--the rest is for specific commissioned projects. Deadlines are great inspirations! I don't have much formal scholastic training. I did study briefly in the 1960s with David Ward-Steinman at San Diego State College, and in New York at the BMI writers workshop with Bob Brookmeyer and Manny Albam, and lots of great orchestration books by Henry Mancini, Kent Kennan and Ray Wright. I would say that among my major inspirations have been Brookmeyer, Gil Evans, Thad Jones, Maurice Ravel, Horace Silver. It's most rewarding to hear something in your head, or play it on the piano, and then hear it take shape and come to life with a small ensemble, a big band or an orchestra."

Hear Bill's compositions and/or arrangements on recordings by the following artists:

Airmen Of Note Big Band: THERE'S A BOAT THAT'S LEAVING SOON FOR NEW YORK (G. Gershwin) -

00:0000:00

Airmen Of Note Big Band: NEW YORK ON SUNDAY (P. Nero) -

00:0000:00

Aureole Chamber Trio: PUVA (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

Aureole Chamber Trio: ZINGARO (A. Jobim) -

00:0000:00

Beatles Collection: THIS BOY (J. Lennon) -

00:0000:00

Beatles Collection: A DAY IN THE LIFE (J. Lennon) -

00:0000:00

Ed Bickert BICK'S BAG (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

Ann Hampton Callaway: IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH ME (C. Porter) -

00:0000:00

Carnegie Hall Jazz Band: MISS JONES (R. Rodgers) -

00:0000:00

Ray Drummond & Mays: RAY'S REFRAIN (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

Catherine Dupuis: IF YOU LOVE SOMEBODY SET THEM FREE (Sting) -

00:0000:00

Catherine Dupuis: GET OUT OF TOWN (C. Porter) -

00:0000:00

John Goldsby: 3 SHORT STORIES-Mvt. 1 (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

John Goldsby: 3 SHORT STORIES-Mvt. 2 (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

Inventions Trio: TOWARDS THE SEA (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

Inventions Trio: FANTASY Mvt. 1 (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

Morgana King: EVERYTIME WE SAY GOODBYE (C. Porter) -

00:0000:00

Kristin Korb & Orchestra: I'M OLD-FASHIONED (J. Kern) -

00:0000:00

Bob Magnusson: DARK MOMENT (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

Manhattan Chamber Jazz 7tet: CLAIR DE LUNE (C. Debussy) -

00:0000:00

Manhattan Chamber Jazz 7tet FULL MOON AND EMPTY ARMS (S. Rachmaninoff) -

00:0000:00

B. Mays Trio IN HER ARMS (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

B. Mays Trio ON THE ROAD (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

B. Mays Trio JUDY (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

Mark Murphy: BOPLICITY (M. Davis) -

00:0000:00

Mark Murphy: LAZY AFTERNOON (J. Moross) -

00:0000:00

Bud Shank: FLUTE SUITE - Mvt. 1 (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

Bobby Shew: SURPRISE SAMBA (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

Bobby Shew: PLAY SONG (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

Marvin Stamm: MADRUGADA (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

Lew Tabackin: EUTERPE (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

Turte Creek Chorale: PEACE WALTZ (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

WDR Big Band NEW YORK STATE OF MIND (B. Joel) -

00:0000:00

WDR Big Band LONELY TOWN (L. Bernstein) -

00:0000:00

Martin Wind: LAGRIMA AGRADECIDA (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

Phil Woods: LUCKY SO AND SO (D. Ellington) -

00:0000:00

Phil Woods: MY AZURE (B. Mays) -

00:0000:00

PUBLISHED COMPOSTIONS & ARRANGEMENTS:

Available from Bill Mays

For Cello, Trumpet, Piano:

Bachianas Brasilieras #5 Mvt. 1

Delaware River Suite (in 7 movements)

Fantasy (in 3 movements)

Girl With The Flaxen Hair

Life's A Movie (in 4 movements)

Nuages

Vocalise

For Flute & Piano:

Suite for Flute & Piano

For Sextet (Piano, Bass, Drums, Trumpet, Alto Sax, Trombone):

Autumn in New York

Manhattan

New York State Of Mind

Sunday In New York

There's A Boat That's Leavin’ Soon For New York

For Symphony Orchestra, Featuring Tumpet & Piano Soloists:

Play Song

For Big Band:

Bick’s Bag

Play Song

Quietly

There’s A Boat That's Leavin' Soon For New York

Two As One

New York State Of Mind

Sunday In New York

Ten, Chelsea Evening

52nd Street Theme

Autumn In New York

Lonely Town/All Across The City

Broadway Blues

Manhattan Soliloquy

For 4 Woodwinds & Rhythm Section:

Nutcracker Suite

The Christmas Song

Christmas Thanksgiving Prayer

My Favorite Things

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Silver Bells

Etude Opus 10, #3

Full Moon And Empty Arms

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring

Clair De Lune

Pavane (from "Mother Goose Suite")

Available from Neil Kjos Publishing

For Jazz Quintet (Piano, Bass, Drums, Trumpet, Saxophone):

Blues Marx

Surprise Samba

Available from Schott Music

For Contrabass & Piano:

Three Short Stories

For SATB Saxophone Quartet:

Mavrodaphne’s Dance

Goodbye California

Play Song

For 4 Woodwinds & Rhythm Section:

Nutcracker Suite:

Overture
March
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Dance of the Reed Flutes
Arab Dance
Waltz of the Flowers