Lyle Mays has been an integral part of the Pat Metheny Group since its inception (in 1977) and has co-written much of the consistently engaging music for the multi-Grammy-winning group's albums. Lyle's sense of melody, crystal clear virtuosity and almost cinematic scope of orchestration has clearly distinguished the group's sound. Music has been a large part of Lyle's life for as long as he can remember. Born (1953) into a musical family in Wausaukee, Wisconsin, he was always encouraged to explore new forms of expression. As a teenager, Lyle attended jazz summer camps and studied with such talents as Rich Matteson and Marian McPartland. He then studied composition and arrangement at North Texas State University before touring with Woody Herman's Thundering Herd. While appearing at the 1975 Wichita Jazz Festival, Lyle met twenty year old guitarist, Pat Metheny. Lyle moved to Boston in 1977, and the two formed a musical alliance that has proven to be among the most artistically successful of the past two decades. In addition to winning 9 Grammy Awards with the Pat Metheny Group, Lyle has been nominated 4 times for his own work.
Discography
Lyle Mays: 2000 Solo Improvisations for Expanded Piano. The album is a unique mixture of improvisation and composition utilizing the grand piano, Midi piano, computer and electronics. 1993 Fictionary featuring Jack DeJohnette and Marc Johnson 1989 Street Dreams 1986 Lyle Mays , his first solo album, 1981 As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls, a duet recording with Pat Metheny featuring percussionist, Nana Vasconcelos.
With Pat Metheny Group 1997 Imaginary Day 1996 Quartet 1995 We Live Here 1993 The Road To You 1989 Letter From Home 1987 Still Life (Talking) 1985 Falcon And The Snowman (Soundtrack) 1984 First Circle 1983 Travels 1982 Offramp 1981 As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls 1979 American Garage 1978 Pat Metheny Group
Soundtracks
1994 Composed and performed the film score for Mustang; The Hidden Kingdom for Discovery Productions. The story, narrated by Harrison Ford, tells of a Buddhist enclave critical to the preservation of Tibet's cultural heritage. Composed and recorded the soundtrack for the video entitled The Lion and the Lamb, narrated by Amy Grant and Christopher Reeve, produced by Rabbit Ears Productions. 1993 Composed and recorded the soundtrack for the video and CD release by Rabbit Ears Productions: Moses the Law Giver, narrated by Ben Kingsley. 1992 Composed and recorded the soundtrack for the video and CD release for Rabbit Ears Productions: East of the Sun and West of the Moon, a Norwegian folk tale narrated by Max Von Sydow. 1986 Composed and recorded the soundtrack for the video and CD release of the renowned children's story for Rabbit Ears Productions: The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Mr. Jeremy Fisher, narrated by Meryl Streep. Orphans ミ This play, directed by Gary Sinise, featured an assortment of Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays music. The play opened at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago, moved to off-Broadway in New York City and concluded its run in London where Albert Finney joined the cast. 1985 Co-wrote the score with Metheny for the hit film, The Falcon And The Snowman, with its international hit, メThis is Not Americaモ; the lyrics written and performed by David Bowie. 1984 Fandango, a Warner Brothers Pictures release, produced by Stephen Spielberg and directed by Kevin Reynolds, features approximately nine minutes of music from the Lyle Mays/Pat Metheny album, As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls, in the motion picture score. Lyle was featured on the soundtrack for the film Mrs. Soffel starring Diane Keaton and Mel Gibson.
Other Activities
1994 Lyle composed the piece メ12 Days in the Shadowモ of a Miracle as a commissioned piece for the Debussy Trio. 1988 Composed 3 chamber music pieces this year: メSomewhere in Maineモ: For violin, marimba and tape, commissioned and recorded by the group, Marimolin. メBalancesモ: Performed by the renown Boston-based contemporary composers group, Composers in Red Sneakers. メVarying Lengthsモ: The piece was composed for 7 percussionists and synthesizer. Its premiere was conducted by Barry Jekowsky and performed by members of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
Other Activities
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1994年のLyleは、ドビュッシー・トリオ用の1委任された片として??ユのShadowモの中の部分メ12時期を構成しました。1988年は今年3つの室内楽部分を作曲しました:Maineモの中のメSomewhere:グループ、Marimolinによって委任され記録されたバイオリン、マリンバおよびテープのために。メBalancesモ:名声によってボストンが本拠の同時代の作曲家グループ(Red運動靴中の作曲家)を上演します。メVarying Lengthsモ:部分は7つの打楽器奏者およびシンセサイザーのために作曲されました。その初日はバリーJekowskyによって導かれ、サンフランシスコ交響楽団のメンバーによって上演されました。