Artist description Jennifer May is a bassist who lays the foundation for soloists to perform their best. A steady player keeping the beat and noted for her great swing feel. A good soloist not afraid to take on a challenge. Jennifer was presented the Best R&B Bassist Award in 2002, 2001 and 1999 by Buffalo's Nightlife Magazine along with best R&B band(Taylor Made Jazz) for 2001 and 2002 . Jennifer is also a song writer,vocalist, show producer and produced the CD "First TIme Around".

Music Style Jazz/R&B

Musical Influences Charlie Hayden, Steve Swallow, Charlie Mingus, Ray Brown, The World Saxophone Quartet, Abdullah Ibrahim, Pierre Dorge & New Jungle Orchestra and many other jazz artists too numerous to mention.

Similar Artists Taylor Made Jazz has a very distinctive sound. Their CD The Next Step is all original music, instruementals and vocals which is described as a mix of Jazz, Smooth Jazz and Rythm and Blues. .

Artist History Jennifer started out playing with Big Bands in 1985 at the Historic Colored Musicians Club in Buffalo NY, and in a guitar duet. She has played with many groups throughout her professional career, from duets to big bands, and formed her own 6 piece group,Ladies First, an all female jazz ensemble which played for 4 years in the Buffalo area. Jennifer's bass playing can be heard on four CDs - Two with Taylor Made Jazz-"The Next Step" and "Full Circle", one with Lance Diamond -"A Lance Diamond Christmas",a vocal release CD single "thru the eyes of a child" and "First Time Around" with guitarist Walter Sopicki which Jennifer also produced. As bassist for Barb Wired ,a blues/rock band, in 1998 Jennifer expanded her bass playing style and was ready for the many styles of playing required as bassist for TAYLOR MADE JAZZ, an International Touring Jazz R&B group. She joined TMJ in 1998, and has completed 5 tours worldwide performing at military basses and Embassies from Iceland to Mozambique. It is with this group she was awarded BUFFALO's Best R&B Bassist from the Buffalo Night Life Magzine in 1999, 2001 and 2002 along with Taylor Made Jazz awarded best R&B group for 2001 and 2002. Jennifer has been performing jazz concerts for the Buffalo City Schools for 18 years and is currently working through Young Audiences of WNY, part of a national organization providing educational arts (music) in the schools. Jennifer also produced a highly succesfull show in celebration of Womens Month on March 8th 2003 called "an all female tribute to ella fitzgerald", using her all female big band she formed in 2002. Jennifer has appeared on Television performing on CTV, AM Buffalo, Off Beat Cinema (a nationwide syndication)- CH7, The Early Show- CH2, Crossroads on Adelphia Cable and has been on the news for many public performances. The following is a list of groups Jennifer has performed with throughout her career: Taylor Made Jazz (Jazz and R&B), Barb Wired (Blues/Rock); Mike Morand (Jazz,vocal,piano,bass,drums);Ladies First (Jazz, vocal,sax,piano,bass,congas,drums);Jazzline (Jazz quartet- sax vocal,guitar,bass,drums);Jazzmanian Devils(Jazz- guitar/bass duet);Jene( Jazz-guitar, bass,drums); Art Anderson Big Band; Les Davis Quartet(Jazz-Sax,Piano,Bass,Drums);Charles Reedy Band(Jazz-Sax,Piano,Bass,Drums);Macy Favor Big Band;Tierra Jazz(Jazz/Latin Sax,Piano,Congas,Bass,Drums);Epic(Jazz-Sax,Bass,Drums);Carol McClaughlin Big Band;Willie Dorsey Big Band;Tribute to Billie Holiday Show(Performed at the Albright Knox Art Gallery Summer Jazz Series); Jimmie White Big Band;All female Blues Jam fund raiser with Joanna O'Connell. Jennifer is currently working on a CD comprised of her original compositions due out in fall of next year.

Instruments Electric Bass

Albums The Next Step (Taylor Made Jazz) , Full Circle (Taylor Made Jazz), First Time Around (Guitar/bass duet) ; A Lance Diamond Christmas;Thru the Eyes Of A Child(available on TMI website)

Press Reviews buffalonews.com check gusto Friday March 14th/ cover photo and 2 page article on "Ladies First" Big Band I founded in September 2002 and produced "an all female tribute to Ella Fitzgerald" performed on March 8th 2003. Taylor Made Jazz was presented a proclamation from the City of Buffalo Common Council declaring Tuesday July 22, 2003 "Taylor Made Jazz Day" in the City of Buffalo.

Additional Info Taylor Made Jazz song SATURDAY NIGHT from THE NEXT STEP CD at 21 in MP3 Jazz charts

Location Buffalo, New York - USA

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