Lyle Mays

Real Name:
Lyle David Mays
Profile:
Lyle Mays (November 27, 1953 - February 10, 2020) was an American jazz pianist from Wausaukee, Wisconsin. He is best known for his work with guitarist Pat Metheny as a member of the Pat Metheny Group, in which he collaborated with Metheny in composition and provided arrangements, orchestration and - most remarkably - the complex harmonic and metric backbone of the group's musical signature.
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Artist

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Albums

PAP-25505, ECM 1190 As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls — Lyle Mays Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays - As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls (Album) ECM Records PAP-25505, ECM 1190 Japan 1981 Sell This Version
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none The Kurzweil 250 A Demonstration — Lyle Mays Paul Heckert, Lyle Mays, Cleve Pozar, John Shykun, Robert Winter, Steve Wyatt, Michael A. Brigida, Lynn Brubaker, Ray Kurzweil, Jerry Landay Paul Heckert, Lyle Mays, Cleve Pozar, John Shykun, Robert Winter, Steve Wyatt, Michael A. Brigida, Lynn Brubaker, Ray Kurzweil, Jerry Landay - The Kurzweil 250 A Demonstration(Cass, Smplr) Raymond Kurzweil Records none US 1985 Sell This Version
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GFLC 19193 Lyle Mays — Lyle Mays Lyle Mays Lyle Mays (Album) Geffen Records, Metheny Group Productions GFLC 19193 UK 1986 Sell This Version
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WBMS 137 Interviews With Lyle Mays And Pat Metheny — Lyle Mays Lyle Mays / Pat Metheny Lyle Mays / Pat Metheny - Interviews With Lyle Mays And Pat Metheny(LP, Promo, Transcription) Geffen Records, Metheny Group Productions WBMS 137 US 1986 Sell This Version
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WD-0708 The Tale Of Peter Rabbit, The Tale Of Mr. Jeremy Fisher & The Tale Of Two Bad Mice — Lyle Mays Beatrix Potter, Meryl Streep, Lyle Mays, Art Lande Beatrix Potter, Meryl Streep, Lyle Mays, Art Lande - The Tale Of Peter Rabbit, The Tale Of Mr. Jeremy Fisher & The Tale Of Two Bad Mice (Album) Windham Hill Records, Rabbit Ears Productions WD-0708 US 1988 Sell This Version
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924 204-4 Street Dreams — Lyle Mays Lyle Mays Street Dreams (Album) Geffen Records 924 204-4 Europe 1988 Sell This Version
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GFLC 19194 Lyle Mays Street Dreams(Cass, Album) Geffen Records GFLC 19194 UK & Ireland 1988 Sell This Version
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74041-70756-2 East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon — Lyle Mays Max Von Sydow, Lyle Mays Max Von Sydow, Lyle Mays - East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon Rabbit Ears Productions, BMG Kidz 74041-70756-2 US 1991 Sell This Version
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GEC24521 Fictionary — Lyle Mays Lyle Mays With Marc Johnson (2) And Jack DeJohnette Lyle Mays With Marc Johnson (2) And Jack DeJohnette - Fictionary (Album) Geffen Records GEC24521 Germany 1993 Sell This Version
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WPCR-10692 Solo (Improvisations For Expanded Piano) — Lyle Mays Lyle Mays Solo (Improvisations For Expanded Piano) (Album) Warner Bros. Records WPCR-10692 Japan 2000 Sell This Version
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Singles & EPs

PRO-S-959 It's For You (Edit) — Lyle Mays Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays - It's For You (Edit) ECM Records PRO-S-959 US 1981 Sell This Version
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PRO-A-2466 Highland Aire — Lyle Mays Lyle Mays Highland Aire(12", Promo) Geffen Records, Metheny Group Productions PRO-A-2466 US 1986 Sell This Version
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Soundpage #22 Synth Sketch For Lyle Mays / David Frederick Lyle Mays / David Frederick - Synth Sketch For "Varying Length"(Flexi, 7", Promo) Keyboard Magazine Soundpage #22 US 1986 Sell This Version
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PRO-CD-3266 Feet First  — Lyle Mays Lyle Mays Feet First (CD, Single, Promo) Geffen Records PRO-CD-3266 US 1988 Sell This Version
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none Eberhard — Lyle Mays Lyle Mays Eberhard (Single) Not On Label (Lyle Mays Self-released) none US 2021 Sell This Version
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Miscellaneous

74041-70236-2 Moses The Lawgiver — Lyle Mays Ben Kingsley, Lyle Mays Ben Kingsley, Lyle Mays - Moses The Lawgiver(CD) Rabbit Ears Music, BMG Kidz 74041-70236-2 US 1993 Sell This Version

Add Review

Expansive09

Expansive09

July 6, 2021
edited about 1 year ago
A shame only one post on Discogs for such an amazing talent as Mr. Mays and his contributions to the jazz and jazz crossover world.
Lyle was truly a unique talent brought to Pat Metheny's side in the mid 1970's and forever changing the direction of where jazz "was" supposed to sound like both harmonically and stylistically.
Without a stretch of the imagination Lyle's melodic approach was drawn from the influences of the late Bill Evans, rich is lyricism and dare I say hooks that embed deep into the listeners subconscious. Not only was Lyle's approach to the piano so astoundingly gentle and heartfelt but he also embraced technology bringing those nuance and textured atmospheres to the Pat Metheny Group that would forever forge decades of memorable music on the ECM and Geffen labels.
Lyle's approach to the Oberheim synthesizer and later Synclavier would be the genesis of such epic PMG albums like As Falls Witchita Falls, Offramp finally the monumental Brazilian influenced Still Life Talking taking the tech and live musicianship onto the steps of Mt. Zeus and beyond (how can an album from 1986 still sound so fresh today)! I'd like to also highlight the debut solo release from Lyle Mays from 1986 albeit more subtle, mellow, ambient however the sinuous melodic statements synthesizer textures are are unlike anything out at that time period and to date still sounds rewarding to the curious set of ears. Lyle May's was a gift to the music world let's thank the cosmos for gifting us his legacy of transcendent music contributions for future generations to appreciate..
Ajapanagamanas

Ajapanagamanas

June 4, 2021
It's been a while now, but nevertheless, may Lyle Mays live forever! The truly unique lyrical style to his music shaped the understanding of what beauty contained within melodies -as well as sound- could be for us countless admirers of his work through the times! Bringing to life the heart of the piano, the depth of the synthesizer.
May these silly words of mine pay a little Discogs homage to his artistic legacy. We will always love you!

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