Remembering All About Jazz's Chris May

With profound sadness, the All About Jazz family mourns the loss of Chris May (1946-2024), a luminous soul whose passion and dedication took AAJ to new heights during his 20 year tenure. Chris was more than a colleague—he was a beloved writer, a brilliant editor, and a cherished friend whose words dazzled with grace and insight. We invite our community to honor Chris's memory by sharing your stories and reflections that capture his remarkable spirit. Please email us your tributes or share your memories in the comments section below.

Robert Middleton

Chris May, one of the most prolific writers / editors at All About Jazz, passed away this past week, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of insightful, passionate, and joyful writing about the music he loved. His output was astonishing in its breadth and depth, and through his words, he invited readers to share in his profound connection to jazz and its boundless possibilities.

Chris wrote with a voice that radiated warmth, enthusiasm, and curiosity. He reveled in the diversity and vitality of jazz and had an uncanny ability to connect the dots across genres, eras, and traditions, highlighting how jazz, in its many forms, could speak to the soul in timeless and universal ways.

Chris's love for jazz was evident not only in the artists he championed but also in the broader cultural and human stories he uncovered in their work.

Through his countless reviews and articles (his "Building a Jazz Library" articles were epic), Chris gave us more than recommendations; he gave us reasons to care deeply about the art and the people who create it. He showed us that jazz is alive, evolving, and as relevant today as it was in its earliest days. His voice will be deeply missed, but his contributions will resonate for years to come, inspiring readers and listeners alike to dive into the music with open ears and hearts.

Thank you, Chris, for your tireless passion and your gift for sharing the joy of jazz with the world. You will be remembered fondly and missed dearly.

Ian Patterson

The desperately sad news of Chris May's sudden passing has come as a great shock. For twenty years at All About Jazz he set the standard by which other writers measured themselves. But to talk about his writing skills only in the context of All About Jazz is to do Chris an injustice. He was one of the finest writers on music anywhere. He was also a very fine editor. I always welcomed his deft hand and astute observations on my own writing, and also his guidance and good humor when I joined the editing team. We never met and in fact only began to Skype after eighteen years as colleagues at AAJ. It was a pleasure to hear of his exploits in Nigeria and of meeting Fela Kuti. Chris is held in very high regard by the Kuti estate to this day. It goes without saying that he is held in equally high regard by all of us at All About Jazz. Thank you Chris. I will miss you, but it is a consolation to know that I will be able to hear your distinctive voice any time I read one of your brilliant articles.

Katchie Cartwright

Like all of us at AAJ, I am still processing the unexpected loss of the irreplaceable Chris May, writer extraordinaire, editor with just the right touch, scrupulous researcher and endlessly entertaining pen pal. Chris was one of a kind—brilliant, wickedly funny, astute, erudite, irreverent, caring. I am profoundly grateful for his mentorship, inspired by his example of excellence and integrity and terribly sad that we will not be able to make good on the London meeting we spoke of. "Make 'em laugh, make 'em cry," he would say. Reading through a few of his articles today, I chuckled as my eyes welled. I mean, who begins a review by pointing out that "the eighteen-piece Balimaya Project is an all-male ensemble"? Or, in another, that the band "wheels and turns with the same uncanny unity as a murmuration of starlings"? Thank you, Chris, for leaving us with so much.

David A. Orthmann

Chris May is one of the handful of contemporary jazz writers I take seriously. It never mattered whether I agreed with him about the value of a particular artist. His assertive, well-informed, sometimes quirky, often humorous voice, clean, precise prose, and occasional comments on social issues encouraged me to dig deeper as I think and write about the music. As the years went by, I continued to appreciate the breadth and depth of Chris's talent. I'll miss discovering new work in AAJ but will return to his essays in the archives for inspiration. Rest in peace, Chris.

Victor L. Schermer

Chris will be sorely missed. As an editor, he was always thoughtful and kind, never overly critical or picky, and his editing always improved the quality of my writing. He had a knowledge of jazz that came from his love of the music and was encyclopedic in scope. It was always clear to me that his work always came from his heart as well as his mind.

Glenn Astarita

Chris demonstrated an unwavering commitment to thoroughness and detail in every article or review he edited and produced. His amicable nature made collaboration a joy, fostering a positive and productive environment. Chris will always be remembered for his exemplary writing skills and his kind-hearted and professional demeanor.

Kyle Simpler

This is a terrible loss. Chris was someone I admired both as a writer and an editor. His articles and reviews gave me a point of reference on how the writing should be done. Also, I learned a great deal from his editorial comments, which were always helpful. He didn't miss anything! It always gave me a sense of accomplishment when one of my reviews went through without changes. I figured that if it passed the Chris test, it must be pretty clean copy.

C. Michael Bailey

Chris became a part of the All About Jazz Family after me, bringing with him a measured discipline in his own writing and that of the entire AAJ staff. He was considerate and knowledgeable, kind and generous with his time. I will miss his wisdom and guidance.

Doug Hall

I did not know Chris personally but I can easily say, without reservation, he was one of the best writers & reviewers of jazz, for ANY publication, I've read over my 66 years.

Neil Duggan

Although we never met in person, it certainly feels like we did. Chris was my initial mentor at AAJ. He consistently provided prompt, knowledgeable guidance, helping me navigate with support and encouragement. He also told me when I had made errors—in the nicest possible way. His individual music passions shone through in his writing which reflected an extraordinary depth of musical understanding. His reviews brilliantly captured the contemporary jazz landscape, spanning London, Africa, and beyond, while demonstrating remarkable insight into jazz history. Learning of his passing brought sadness and shock and I hope his writing legacy will inspire and inform future generations of music lovers.

Jakob Baekgaard

Chris was a leading light of AAJ. I remember being in awe that he did the liner notes for the complete Fela Kuti box set, but besides writing a lot, he took time to help others as an editor, including me. His work as an editor commands respect and so does his many years of writing. He kept being curious and covered the new London jazz movement when it started to emerge. It's strange and sad that Chris is no longer here. He was and is a huge part of the history of All About Jazz and will be missed.

Rob Garratt

Whenever I Googled an artist, release or trend, and Chris' name came up—as it so often did—I knew I was in for a treat. I was instantly confident what I was searching up was worth my time—and that I had an erudite explanation of why already at my fingertips.

Chris was simply one of the best music writers out there—authoritative and informed, but breezy and boasting a witty turn of phrase that could somehow satisfy scholars and passing readers alike. His liner notes to Knitting Factory's Fela Kuti vinyl reissue series have proved an especially valuable resource, and I don't envy anyone tasked with following such a class act. RIP Chris.

Dave Linn

I was shocked and saddened when I read about Chris' passing. Chris and I shared a lot of emails last year and several this year. I felt he and I had a very similar take on the music and artists over the years (he continued to follow the new jazz scene, while I stopped for many years until I joined AAJ). We talked about favorite artists of ours like Art Pepper and Pharoah Sanders; we shared a huge interest in the Strata East label and much more. As an editor, he had a light hand, but his suggestions and changes were always spot-on. Three months back when I informed Chris and Michael about my upcoming open heart surgery (performed six weeks ago), Chris shared his story with the same operation years before which was comforting. Over these last two years, I could always count on him for some witty back and forth and felt a connection bond with him. I'm sure he had the same effect on many of AAJ's contributors. RIP Chris. You will be missed.

Scott Gudell

Although I had a great nine-to-five job putting two kids through college, I learned a lot about the music world after 5pm by reading and writing about music and as a published author over the course of many decades. When All About Jazz began publishing my stories years ago, I was lucky enough to have Chris May as my editor for several articles. Although I've covered every type of music—jazz, rock, folk, classical etc.—I submitted one article that referenced big band music of the 1930s-1950s. Chris took the time to not only comment on something that was ambiguous but he offered a suggestion as well. The result was I did a bit more homework and learned something, AAJ published an even better article and readers read something at a high level of professionalism. Great team work where everyone benefited.

Skip Heller

There's a guy who absolutely loved music and remembered why he wanted to be part of it. Every discussion I ever had with him was marked by his vast and incredible knowledge of musicians ranging from Humphrey Lyttleton (one of his boyhood heroes) to James "Blood" Ulmer. He was forthright and enthusiastic. If he heard something wonderful, he wanted you to hear it too. I'll miss Chris May.

Nicholas F. Mondello

Chris May was kind to edit quite a number of my reviews and articles. His editing my writing to ensure the sentences were direct, focused and devoid of any hyperbole was a tremendous help. A great editing partner. He is and will be missed.

Jim Worsley

It's with sadness that I learn of this news. Chris was humble despite his staggering knowledge of jazz and the men and women who play it. Chris had a way about him. Much closer to a hip swagger than that of an egotistical posture. I didn't know Chris well, but thought very well of him. I feel better for having known him, if for only a few years. Thanks for the many great insights and the unique points if view.

Michael Ricci

Chris was a cornerstone at AAJ, offering deep knowledge, extensive experience, strong opinions, and a steadying influence every day. He was rock solid dependable, with a knack for helping new writers feel welcome and supported. To put his contributions into perspective, Chris wrote nearly 1,500 articles and edited almost 5,000 pieces for All About Jazz.

With his sharp wit and incisive humor, Chris was more than just a colleague. We shared many conversations over the years on a wide range of topics—just two friends, with one having a bit more life experience. Chris was deeply committed to our work and established one of the strongest voices in AAJ's history. His impact on the publication, the staff, and our readers will never be forgotten. This is an immense loss for AAJ, and he will be profoundly missed.

As Chris aptly put it to new AAJ writers, "None of us get paid. Your reward will come in heaven." Hopefully, Chris just received his big pay day.

Oded Tzur

I will miss Chris' voice dearly, as a careful listener and a person who has a genuine love for music and the stories behind it. Talking to Chris about the creative process had always been so natural and inspiring because he had the pedigree, insight and sensitivity to truly understand everything about it.

Alison Rayner

I'm so sad today to hear about the passing of Chris May. I never met him in person, but of course had known of him for many years. I was so pleased that it was he who reviewed my last album Short Stories for All About Jazz in 2020 and we had some lovely communications at that time. He was exceptionally knowledgeable about a huge range of music of course, but more than that, he understood the historical and political context around it and how this affected the development of the music, which he always expressed with warmth and humanity. What a tremendous loss to the jazz community this is. He leaves a legacy of wonderful writing and we have lost someone really special.

Larry Stabbins

I was really sad to hear of Chris May's death. He was a lovely man and a great writer. One of his pieces in AAJ in 2019 "We Out Here: The Fast-Forward Evolution of British Jazz" was a major catalyst to my returning to music after a ten year break and we kept in touch afterwards and he was always really supportive and encouraging. He'll be missed hugely.

Werner X. Uehlinger, Hat Hut Records

Chris was a person of deep knowledge. He had a unique ability to enrich liner notes and reviews with details drawn from both his expertise and his imagination. Chris also wrote short stories, each one a self-contained chapter of a larger, unwritten book. Beyond the liner notes, I had many thoughtful exchanges with Chris, always eager to learn his perspective. It's truly a pity that this is no longer possible, as I wanted to gain more insight from him, especially regarding his experience and knowledge of African jazz. In Chris, I lost someone I deeply admired and respected.

Jim Johnstone, Ampersand PR

I was deeply saddened to hear of Chris May's passing. For many years he has enriched my days with his enthusiasm, knowledge and candour.

In correspondence, he was breezy, straightforward and amusing. He would never put on airs but he could inform and enlighten in an extremely helpful fashion. He could make his point without denigrating or thinking the worst of others. Of course he did not think we lived in a perfect world and it was also good to be able to share some of the tribulations of work and everyday life with him.

In his music writing he was incredibly well informed, bringing his own comparisons and connections while making sense of others—it was always a delight to see what he had to say on a project, however alien or familiar it may have been. He seemed equally at ease writing about contemporary or historic releases and would bring his knowledge of one to the other.

He was also generous with his time, passing on his views from a lifetime in the many and varied businesses of music and publishing. In person, he was just as delightful: dapper, funny, candid and magnanimous.

I will greatly miss his wisdom, his honesty, his encouragement and support.

Ed Maitland Smith, Barbican Centre

From the all-too-brief and recent years that I've known Chris May, whether crossing paths at the Press Desk at the Barbican or through reading his many reviews, Chris was always effusive and sincere in his praise, refined and considered in his critiques, and, without fail and above all, a pleasure to speak to. It goes without saying but he was also a dedicated and knowledgeable advocate for jazz and I'm very grateful to him for all of his reviews, especially for the care he took when writing them. His passion and love of music, of musical brilliance, and especially of emerging talent was ever-present, infectious and will be sorely missed.

Will Sumsuch, Only Good Stuff

I was really saddened today to hear of the sudden passing of Chris May. Chris's sheer love of the music, his lifelong fandom, just shone through his words whenever he was moved to write. He was incredibly encouraging and kind to me when I left the label I used to work for and started out on my own, and for that I will always be so very grateful. I will miss our weekly emails, and I've sent the man so much vinyl recently, I know his address by heart. Today, diving into just a few of his recent album recommendations for All About Jazz has helped. If you like jazz, you should dive in too, and let his passion be a gift to you as well. Thanks for everything, Chris.

Kolida Babo, Only Good Stuff

We were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Chris May. He was a person with a profound love for music and a unique ability to dive deep and articulate his thoughts in such a meaningful way.

The review he wrote for our latest album, Spirits of Mauronoros, held great significance for us. His support and the thoughtful appreciation he expressed for our work through his insightful words were truly an honor. We were particularly moved by his belief that music should be more accessible and secure more physical presence.

His approach, both as a professional and as a true music enthusiast, will be greatly missed. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his loved ones.

Kevin Calabro, Calabro Music Media

I'm so sorry to hear of Chris May's passing. He was an incredible writer with adventurous and discerning taste. He was acerbic and curmudgeonly in the best way possible, often barking at me when he didn't like an artist I was promoting or letting me know he won't write a review from a download. But when he believed in an artist, he was all in and would go above and beyond to spread the gospel. I'm really sad to hear of his passing. He will be missed.

Rupert Burley, Dynamic Agency

Chris was a passionate and discerning writer with whom we had many fulfilling discussions about music over the years—his reviews are a joy to read and will create a lasting legacy.

Seun Kuti

Chris was a great man who supported African music with all his heart and earned my respect over the years. I once asked him if he was related to James May and he didn't even know who that was! Legend!!

Rikki Stein

Chris, to our shock and dismay, you've left us, and we're the poorer for it. That's not an admonition. It's because you brought light into the lives of all who knew you. How many years? Is it thirty or forty? You would know the answer. Whenever we spoke or met, you never failed to fill me with delight and leave me a little wiser about whatever we were discussing. And it was generally about music, musicians and their works. You helped me to do my job in ways that go far beyond simple transactions. The effortless skill with which you wrote about music was inspirational, as evidenced in the commentaries you wrote on every Fela song. You'll be sorely missed my friend. Rest in peace.

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