Jazz Articles about Jon Mayer

Jon Mayer: So Many Stars

by C. Michael Bailey
December 12, 2007

The craft of the jazz piano trio is a challenging one; and in a sea of fine trio recordings, it is hard to come by a performance that is just not merely good, as most are, but sublime. When one comes along; it is time to be excited, and So Many Stars is the one to be excited about.

What are the ingredients of the perfect jazz piano trio recording? One is competent leadership, in this case pianist Jon Mayer, ...

Jon Mayer: The Classics

by Ken Franckling
July 1, 2004

This is hard bop pianist Jon Mayer’s fifth release since he resurfaced on the Los Angeles music scene in the early ‘90s after more than twenty years away from jazz, having last been sighted and heard in the Big Apple at the Jazz Gallery June 26th. He first made his mark here in the late ‘50s and the ‘60s playing with Kenny Dorham, Tony Scott, Pete LaRoca [Sims], Jackie McLean and John Coltrane, among many others, while in his late ...

Jon Mayer

by AAJ Staff
June 8, 2004

By Ken Franckling After at least 13 years away from music entirely, and another 13 years rebuilding his life - and his chops - Jon Mayer is ready to take on the challenges of his hometown. “My life has taken a few twists and turns. This is my first legitimate jazz appearance [in New York] in more years than I care to remember, the veteran bebop pianist says from his southern California home. “There are a few ...

Jon Mayer: The Classics

by J. Robert Bragonier
February 25, 2004

Although Jon Mayer got his start in New York in the “glory years” of jazz, he is only now just coming into his own as a jazz pianist of note. Born in 1938, Mayer was raised in Washington Heights, and after graduating from the High School of Music and Art in Manhattan in the mid- to late-‘50s and briefly attending the Manhattan School of Music, he immersed himself in the thriving NYC music scene, playing with the likes of Kenny ...

Jon Mayer: Full Circle

by C. Michael Bailey
May 9, 2002

Trio Rioï

Veteran New York musician Jon Mayer debuts on Reservoir Records with a balmy trio set that takes full advantage of Mr. Mayer's experience as a hard bop pianist. Mr. Mayer's credentials are impressive. In the early to mid 1950s, Mayer performed with Pete LaRoca and Ray Draper before moving on to Kenny Dorman's big band and then replacing Bill Evans in clarinetist Tony Scott's quartet. He went on to record with Jackie McLean, John Coltrane, and Les McCann. ...

Jon Mayer: Rip Van Winkle

by AAJ Staff
September 1, 2000

Life has rebounded quite nicely for pianist Jon Mayer, thank you, now that he has relocated to the West Coast and slowly but surely built up his performing and recording activity to the delight of his listeners there. Not quite falling into the “what ever happened to?" category, Mayer nonetheless dropped from public consciousness for, oh, a couple of decades. And now he's back, Rip Van Winkle-like.Having been infused with the spirit and style of jazz in the ...

Jon Mayer Trio: Do It Like This

by Robert Spencer
October 1, 1998

From the first note of this fine CD it's clear that as a pianist Jon Mayer's technique and sensibilities were forged within the great tradition of his acknowledged influences - chiefly, Wynton Kelly, Red Garland, and Kenny Barron. At the same time Mayer cannot be pigeonholed easily. He can show the drive of Kelly and the gloss of Garland, yes, but after all, Mayer himself was recording in the Fifties with John Coltrane and Jackie McLean, so he is more ...