Mitra I. Arthur | September 8, 2025  
Michael Mayo uses every muscle within his throat when he sings. From his deep baritone chest to wonderfully fluttering head voice, he joyfully bends notes to his will and for our enjoyment at the Tiny Desk.  
 
I was first introduced to Mayo’s voice when he participated in a master class with jazz titan Dianne Reeves during the 2013 American Voices festival at the Kennedy Center. As he folded his voice around the standard "It Could Happen to You," Reeves prompted him to follow her as she began to scat. Without hesitation, Mayo harmonized and traded back and forth with Reeves as if they had rehearsed it (they had not), thoroughly impressing her and the audience. As I watched from off-stage, I thought, “Oh, this cat has it.” He exists in a lineage of similarly dexterous singers like Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau and Betty Carter.  
 
In the years since, Mayo has established himself as a presence in the intersection of jazz, soul and R&B. His albums, Bones and Fly, showcase his nimble vocals, thoughtful lyrics and intricate compositions, and have generated collaborations with bassist Linda May Han Oh and drummer Nate Smith, and touring opportunities with pianist Herbie Hancock.  
 
Here, Mayo presents a selection of songs that invite you into his wondrous artistry. Alita Moses, India Carney and Tomás Cruz showcase their own skillful vocal agility in their handling of Mayo’s vocal arrangements. Pianist Andrew Freedman, drummer Robin Baytas and bassist Nick Campbell Destroys are locked in at every turn. As Mayo prepares to shift into the final song in the set, he drops into an intricate scat, his voice hopscotching, bending, soaring, resting for a moment and reigniting in percussive sound.  
 
SET LIST  
“About Your Love”  
“Bag of Bones”  
“You and You”  
 
MUSICIANS  
Michael Mayo: vocals  
Andrew Freedman: piano, keys  
Nick Campbell Destroys: bass  
Robin Baytas: drums  
Alita Moses: background vocals  
India Carney: background vocals  
Tomás Cruz: background vocals  
 
TINY DESK TEAM  
Producer: Mitra I. Arthur  
Director/Editor: Kara Frame  
Audio Technical Director: Josh Newell  
Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter  
Videographers: Kara Frame, Maia Stern, Sofia Seidel  
Audio Engineer: Jay Czys  
Audio Mix: Maggie Luthar  
Production Assistant: Dhanika Pineda  
Photographer: Michael Zamora  
Series Editor: Lars Gotrich  
Tiny Desk Team: Joshua Bryant, Ashley Pointer  
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed  
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, Robin Hilton  
 
#tinydesk #nprmusic #michaelmayo  
 
Tiny Desk Giveaway. No purchase or donation required for entry. Void where restricted or prohibited by law. 18yrs or older. Deadline September 12, 2025, 11:59PM PT. ARV: $3,800. Links to the entry page and official rules can be found at NPR.org/TinyDeskGiveaway  
Sponsors: NPR, Moises  
 
Support for NPR Music and the 2025 Tiny Desk Giveaway comes from Moises. Powerful AI tools created by musicians, for musicians. Learn more at Moises.AI