Scott Mayo plays alto sax on “Throwback” and soprano sax on “Open Up”.
I got to know Scott Mayo’s beautiful saxophone sound in the 90’s, when my friends and I danced to one particular live album by Earth Wind & Fire which I only have on tape. Appearently it’s a compilation and released in Germany and with another title and cover in other countries:
My favourite song is “After The Love Has Gone”, and of course I love his famous solo is “Reasons”.
I had no idea who he was, never saw a picture and I think he also didn’t have a website until maybe 2005 or so. Finally there was Myspace and one day the profile of Scott Mayo came along he was friends of some friends of mine.. I wrote to him and also we became Social Media friends. A few years later he came to the Netherlands, I enjoyed the Sergio Mendes a lot. We met, together with his good friend, trombone player Andrew Lippman. We had dinner, went to a jam session. Another day we met for a drink.
Again, a few years later I was so happy when Scott he said yes to recording on Saxify. His sound is so beautiful and inspired me when I started to get into music more seriously. People who know me I always told them about the beautiful saxophone sound of Scott Mayo…
When I told Fred Wesley that Scott Mayo will play on Saxify, he was delighted and told me that he liked him very much, especially a certain song with the Gerard Wilson band, he was touched by Scott’s sound.
That’s why Fred raps about Scott in Throwback: “She took al lot of stuff from Scott Mayo of Earth Wind & Fire, That really made her blow”.
Scott Mayo continues to inspire. He’s very versatile and hardworking, at the same time very kind and funny.
Here's the RocknRolla Soundsystem Remix of Throwback with our alto battle (or rather complimentary playing) in the end:
Here’s the bio from his website:
Scott Mayo brings 360 degrees of music industry expertise to his work. With more than 30 years of experience, his skill set ranges from musical direction and contracting to Grammy-nominated writing and performances.
No stranger to television, Mayo is an arranger and multi-instrumentalist in the Dancing with the Stars house band, writing for and playing saxophones, flutes and clarinets. He has also performed on The Voice, Primetime Emmy Awards, The Tonight Show, American Idol and The Singing Bee. Mayo played on the soundtracks for animated films The Good Dinosaur, Epic and Happy Feet Two. Other animated projects include recordings for children’s television shows, Wallykazam! and P. King Duckling.
Mayo is currently the musical director and writing partner for Brazilian legend, Sergio Mendes. Mayo is also an integral part of Mendes’ most recent, Grammy-nominated album, MAGIC, co-writing “Don’t Say Goodbye,” with Mendes and John Legend, “Visions of You” with Mendes and Janelle Monae and the title track, “Magic” with Mendes. Mayo also arranged the music for the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra for Mendes’ 2016 summer concerts commemorating the 50th year of Brasil 66. Additionally, Mayo was the music contractor for Mendes’ Latin Grammy winning album Bom Tempo.
Mayo received a Best R&B Album Grammy nomination for producing the Oleta Adams album, Moving On. Mayo also received a Grammy nomination as the featured performer on Gerald Wilson’s “Romance: Theme from Monterey.” In 2012, Mayo produced Drawn to You, the 12th album from jazz vocalist, Kevyn Lettau. The album also includes Mayo’s talents as a singer, musician and arranger. Mayo was featured playing saxophone and flute during the 2014 BET Awards tribute to Lionel Richie. In 2013, Mayo performed in the house band for the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards and for the MusiCares Person of the Year Tribute to Bruce Springsteen. At the 2011 Grammy Awards, Mayo shared the stage with Mick Jagger and Raphael Saadiq during a tribute to the late “King of Rock n’ Soul,” Solomon Burke.
Among R&B audiences, Mayo is perhaps best known for his work with, Earth Wind & Fire. Mayo toured with the group for more than six years playing saxophone and flute. He is particularly lauded for his stirring on-stage saxophone solo during the beloved hit, “Reasons” featured on the Earth, Wind & Fire: Plugged In & Live album.
In addition to the previously mentioned artists, Mayo has worked with many of music’s most acclaimed performers including: Bruno Mars, Dr. Dre, Damian Marley, Pitbull, Neil Young, Ne-Yo, Juanes, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Dori Caymmi, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Sting, Ivan Lins, Blake Shelton, Beyonce, Carlinhos Brown, Mariah Carey, Ceelo, Andy Grammer, Herb Alpert, Usher, Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Seu Jorge, Tim McGraw, Chaka Khan, Michael Bolton, Shakira, Luther Vandross and Bonnie Raitt.
on 15/08/2017