Michael Mayo: A Voice Taking Flight Lands at SFJAZZ

Michael Mayo performs at SFJAZZ on December 27. (Photo: Lauren Desberg).

The Grammy-nominated vocalist brings his genre-defying sound and “Fly” Deluxe repertoire to Miner Auditorium for a double bill. Click play to listen to our interview with Michael Mayo.

The trajectory of jazz vocalism is often seen as a straight line from the swing era to today, but sometimes an artist emerges who indicates the need to redraw the map. Michael Mayo is one of those artists. Fresh off a career-defining year that earned him two Grammy nominations and a viral NPR Tiny Desk performance, the Los Angeles-based vocalist and composer is concluding his whirlwind 2025 in San Francisco. On Saturday, December 27, Mayo will perform at SFJAZZ’s Miner Auditorium in a special double bill with vibraphonist Sasha Berliner, as part of the Terence Blanchard-curated “UpSwing” series. Ticket info can be found below.

Mayo’s arrival in the Bay Area coincides with a surge in major creative recognition. His second album, Fly, recently reissued as a Deluxe Edition, has earned him nominations for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Jazz Performance for the track “Four.” For Mayo, the news came amid everyday life, which made the accolade feel even more surreal. “It was completely insane. It was actually so wild because I was in Paris at the time, working with some students, and we were literally at soundcheck when I found out.”

A grounded sense of reality shapes Mayo’s approach to his art despite his soaring success. He is a musician who deeply respects the jazz tradition yet also possesses a modernist’s desire to deconstruct it. This duality is most evident in his nominated performance of the Miles Davis classic, "Four." Instead of just playing the head and scatting a solo, Mayo approached the standard with a composer's ear for reinvention.

“It's a song I've heard many times, noted Mayo. “It's a common jam session tune and, of course, a really classic Miles Davis recording. But I always like to add a bit of mischief to my music," Mayo explains. "When it came to this arrangement, I wanted to give it something that felt fresh but still paid homage to the original. You’ll notice there's a new rhythmic feel, right? It has this slow, groovy vibe, but I didn't re-harmonize it at all. It's basically the same original melody and chords because I think that's what makes it so strong. I just wanted to dive in and see what I could experiment with.” 

The Architecture of Voice

Mayo’s live performances are celebrated for their textural richness, often achieved through his skillful use of a looper pedal. This technology allows him to build layered choirs in real-time, harmonizing with himself to craft soundscapes that match the density of a studio recording. However, at the Miner Auditorium show, audiences will see how this technology blends effortlessly with his acoustic quartet.

“I try to be very intuitively led," Mayo says of his relationship with technology. "If it feels natural to try using a looper, I'll start there. But if a song seems to write itself or arranges itself better and sounds better through a combo without extra electronics, then I'll go with that. I think the funny thing is, sometimes I use it as a compositional tool, and it doesn't actually end up in the final product. That's actually what happened with 'Four.' 'Four' started off as a looper pedal idea, but I don't use the looper for that song anymore.”

This intuitive interaction between the electronic and organic will take center stage in San Francisco. Mayo states that the evening's setup will emphasize this hybrid approach. "It'll be piano, bass, and drums. On piano/keys, it'll be Andrew Freedman; on bass, Kyle Miles; and on drums, Robin Baytas. I'll be singing and bringing my looper along," he confirmed.

Ancestry and Curation

The upcoming performance carries the significance of lineage in many ways. Born into musical royalty—his father, Scott Mayo, directed for Earth, Wind & Fire, and his mother, Valerie Pinkston, toured with Diana Ross and Beyoncé—Michael Mayo has always viewed music as a real, tangible path.

 I've always known that I wanted to be a professional singer when I grew up... It was always, always the plan," Mayo says. "I think having the parents I do really helped, as it gave me a clear picture of what a successful music career can look like. Even though my career has been different from theirs, I believe having them as examples showed me that it was simply a possibility.

This innate understanding of musical excellence makes his inclusion in the "UpSwing" series especially significant. Curated by trumpet legend Terence Blanchard, the series features artists whom Blanchard regards as future leaders of jazz. Sharing the spotlight with vibraphonist Sasha Berliner, Mayo sees the event as both a homecoming and a celebration of his accomplishments.

Being part of this curated series with Terrence is a huge honor. Honestly, I've been a fan of Terrence since I was probably 15 or 16 years old. To receive his acknowledgment feels like a significant form of validation," Mayo admits. Regarding his co-headliner, he adds, "I've never made music together [with Sasha], but we have a lot of mutual friends, and I think she's amazing. It's been really cool to watch her career take off... I think it's going to be a special night.

A Universal Connection

Beyond the accolades and the technology, what truly defines Mayo’s music is its emotional connection. Whether he's reimagining a standard or performing an original from Fly, his aim is always connection—a philosophy perfectly shown in his interpretation of the standard "Just Friends," which will be part of the evening's setlist.

"I like to find those familiar touchstones... It's about two people who were friends, then lovers, and then broke up, and now they're just friends—the kind of pain that comes with that," he says. "That's a universal, timeless experience that many people have shared. I aim to find the universality and humanity in these songs. Because to me, that's what makes them so powerful—truly timeless themes."

As 2025 draws to a close, this concert serves as a final victory lap for an artist who has spent the year reaching new heights. "This is the last show of 2025. We've had an incredible year of touring with this band, and I'm really excited to finish the year with such a special show," Mayo says. For the audience at SFJAZZ, it is an opportunity to witness a rising star who isn't just flying—he is soaring.

TICKET INFO

Don't miss the opportunity to see double Grammy-nominee Michael Mayo wrap up his remarkable year in one of the country's top listening rooms. This "UpSwing" double bill offers a night of innovative jazz that respects tradition while confidently exploring new directions.

Show details

Michael Mayo & Sasha Berliner

Saturday, December 27, 2025

Showtime:7:30 PM

SFJAZZ, Miner Auditorium

Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/25-26/upswing-sasha-berliner-michael-mayo/