Fly
Mack Avenue, 2024
8/10
The Los Angeles artist Michael Mayo returns with a sophomore album, where his jazz, neo-soul and R&B ways unfold across 11 well thought out tracks.
“Bag Of Bones” gets the listen off to a soulful start, where Scott Mayo’s well timed soprano sax and Shai Maestro’s strategic rhodes complement Mayo’s smooth pipes, and “Just Friends” follows with Nate Smith’s agile drumming that aligns well with the heartfelt delivery.
Halfway through, the title track uses Valerie Pinkston’s radiant backing vocals amid Maestro’s glowing synth and no lack of charming scatting, while “Frenzy” is a dreamy moment of meticulous guitar from Mayo, as well as Linda May’s dizzying bass.
Close to the end, “Four” uses claps and animated scatting to its advantage, and “Speak No Evil” exits with the precise rhythm section and a very rich interaction for the dynamic finish.
Mayo pulls off some vocal acrobatics via the harmonizing, beatboxing and emotive crooning, and the top notch musicians present only add more allure to the bebop and layered fun.
Travels well with: Lakecia Benjamin- Phoenix; Vanisha Gould- She’s Not Shiny, She’s Not Smooth