Jazz Trio Will Open Pomperaug Fall Concert Series

SOUTHBURY — A fall concert featuring Palmetto Records recording artists The Bill Mays Trio will take place on Saturday, October 13, at 8 pm, in the Pomperaug High School auditorium, 234 Judd Road.

Bill Mays’ eclectic career as a world-class pianist, composer and recording artist has spanned the last 35 years and over 100 recordings, with performance and recording credits that include Sarah Vaughn, Frank Sinatra, Gerry Mulligan, and Barry Manilow. Joining Mr Mays for the evening and completing the trio are talented musicians Martin Wind on bass and Matt Wilson on drums, both renowned artists in the jazz community.

President of Friends of Pomperaug Music, Inc., J.D. McAulay caught the trio in a recent performance at The Blue Note Lounge in Manhattan, and commented, “The classic jazz trio – piano, bass and drums – is one of the more popular formats for jazz. But Bill’s jazz interpretation defies categorization. They create a wide range of musical textures within this format that leaves the audience spellbound. This is a concert no music lover should miss.”

Bill Mays’ keyboard work has been heard on numerous television and film soundtracks, among them Fargo, Interview with the Vampire, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Name That Tune, Rocky, and Sphere.

His published compositions include saxophone quartets, Big Band pieces, suites for flute, bass marimba and violin, lullabies for voice, viola, flute and harp, and a work recently commissioned by the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band. His music has also been recorded by a wide variety of artists: Percy Faith, Woody Herman, Shelly Manne, Mark Murphy, Bud Shank, Turtle Creek Chorale, and Phil Woods.

The trio latest CD on the Palmetto Records label, entitled Summer Sketches, will be on sale at the concert along with other CDs by the artists.

Tickets are $30 for gold seating and $15 for general admission. A special student rate for those showing a valid school ID will be available at the door only for $10 the evening of the show.

Those purchasing gold seating are invited to a cast reception at the Hilton Hotel in Southbury following the concert. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be served, and the artists will be available for autographs and comments. Advance ticket reservations can be ordered with Visa or MasterCard by calling 264-4984. Any remaining tickets will be available at the door.

Friends of Pomperaug Music, Inc. is a non-profit organization providing support for continued excellence in music education at Pomperaug High School. All proceeds from the concert will be used to benefit the music department at PHS