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Earl May
Bassist Earl May, began his career in 1949 in New York City, and honed his craft in places like Minton's Playhouse with musicians such as Lester Young and Mercer Ellington. He was also a protegé of the legendary bass player Charles Mingus. Come hear the tales of Earl May's life story and career in music on August 23rd at the offices of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. In 1951 Earl joined the Billy Taylor Trio, appearing regularly in such clubs as the Hickory House, Birdland and the Downbeat Club. During this period Earl also worked with Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and recorded the classic "Lush Life" with John Coltrane. Earl left the Billy Taylor Trio in 1959 to form his own group and act as musical director and arranger for Gloria Lynne. During the mid-sixties Earl took up the electric bass and led a quartet at The New York Playboy Club. The Earl May Quartet rapidly became the epitome of great music in the New York club scene. Over the years Earl has performed or recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Foster, Cab Calloway, Tommy Flanagan, Linda Hopkins, Doc Cheatham, Charles Brown, John Hendricks, Marlena Shaw, Ruth Brown, Winard Harper, Phyllis Hyman and the Gospel singer/pianist LD Frazier to name a few. He latterly featured with the Barry Harris Trio. Earl has many fans in the New York swing scene, having played at swing dances multiple times in Junior Mance's Trio, Benny Powell's The Gift of Love Quintet, and with his own quintet. Earl died on January 4th 2008 of an apparent heart attack. He was 80.
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Earl May at the Smithsonian's Jazz Cafe
by Erik R. Quick
Earl May Jazz Café, Smithsonian Institute Washington, D.C. October 19, 2007
The Smithsonian Institution hates jazz; at least, their actions may so intimate. For the past few years, Randall Kremer, the intrepid Director of Public Affairs at the National Museum of Natural History and an amateur jazz guitarist, has been booking phenomenal musicians every Friday evening at the museum's Jazz Café. Indeed, the venue has been a most welcome and needed addition to the ...
Continue ReadingEarl May Quartet: Swinging the Blues
by Mike Neely
He may not have recorded much as a leader, but there are few jazz greats over the past forty years or so that haven't played or recorded with bassist Earl May, including Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. His duet recordings with John Coltrane are unusual in the great saxophonists discography; his recordings with Sonny Stitt and Billy Taylor are also widely appreciated. May has always been lauded for his full, bluesy sound and subtle accompaniment, and these characteristics are fully ...
Continue ReadingThe Earl May Quartet: Swinging The Blues
by Michael P. Gladstone
Over the course of the last half-century, Earl May has been one of the busiest bass players in the New York Area. He spent just about the entire decade of the 1950s with the long-running Billy Taylor Trio. Dr. Taylor arranged for a reunion recording of the original trio (with Percy Brice on drums), which was recorded for Prestige in 2003 as Billy Taylor Trio with Earl May/Percy Brice.
On this latest effort, May shows his ability to ...
Continue ReadingEarl May Memorial Monday Feb 4th 7PM St. Peter's Church
Source:
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
Funeral Services for Irene Reid & Earl May
Source:
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
Irene Reid Funeral Services: This Thursday: January 10th, 2008 The Greater Zion Hill Baptist Church at 127th and 8th Avenue Time: Viewing from 2-6:30 Services from 6:30 on at the church
Earl May Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH 275 Market Street Newark, NJ
Irene Reid The last of a ...
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Harlem Speaks Features Bassist Earl May Thursday, August 23rd 6:30PM-8:30PM
Source:
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
The National Jazz Museum in Harlem 104 East 126th Street New York, NY 10035 212 348-8300
Harlem Speaks Features Bassist Earl May
Earl May, Bass August 23, 2007 6:30pm-8:30pm This series is free and open to the public.
Earl May began his career in 1949 in New York City, and honed his craft in places like Minton's Playhouse with musicians such as Lester Young and Mercer ...
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Harlem Speaks Features Bassist Earl May Thursday, August 23rd 6:30PM-8:30PM Free
Source:
All About Jazz
The National Jazz Museum in Harlem 104 East 126th Street New York, NY 10035 212 348-8300 Earl May, Bass Thursday, August 23, 2007 6:30pm-8:30pm This series is free and open to the public Earl May began his career in 1949 in New York City, and honed his craft in places like Minton”s Playhouse with musicians such as Lester Young, Mercer Ellington. He was also a proteg of the legendary Charles ...
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