There are few challenges so great as being a side man on someone else’s Jazz project.  The line between what you can do and what the project needs to make it the best it can be is everything.   It’s also a great honor.  It means someone out there values who you are and what you do to the point that they see you as a valuable asset to the project.  I have been very proud to have participated in these great CD’s.

John Hazilla & Saxabone,  Form & Function

(CIMP #142, 1997)

John Hazilla-drums, percussion

Jim Odgren-alto saxophone

Greg Badolato-tenor saxophone

Tim Mayer-baritone saxophone

John Pierce-trombone

Partial track listing:

Eternal Triangle (Sonny Stitt)

Our Man Higgins (Lee Morgan)

Crepuscule With Nellie (T. Monk, arr. Tim Mayer)

A Little Busy (Bobby Timmons)

Cubrazil (John Hazilla)

Yoko Miwa, In The Mist Of Time

(2000)

Yoko Miwa-piano

Tim Mayer-tenor saxophone

Massimo Biolcati-bass

Scott Goulding-drums

produced by Yoko Miwa, recorded, mixed, mastered by Peter Kontrimas at PBS Studios

All songs by Yoko Miwa except Red Dragonfly (Japanese traditional)

Fragmented Memories

The Deep End

I’m Okay

Alice

In The Mist of Time

When Will “It” Happen

Promise

Oak Square Blues

Red Dragonfly

Ahimsa, Never The Same Way Once

(OFC0001, 2000 Parajite Records)

produced by Rahul Roy, recorded by Yasko Kubota

Tim Mayer-tenor & alto saxophones, flute, EWI

Yasko Kubota-piano & keys

Archie Kubota-bass & taiko drums

Harvey Wihrt-percussion

Rahul Roy-guitars, vocals

All songs by Rahul Roy except as noted

Heyoka

Never The Same Way Once

Anamika

54 Duncan Terrace (Alan Holdsworth)

Josselyn

Hand In Hand (Ralph Towner)

Like Father Like Son

Homecoming

“Short Bread” – Rusty Scott Quartet (2000)

Rusty Scott (piano), Tim Mayer (saxophone), Keala Kaumehiewa (bass), Luther Gray (drums)

Track List 1.  Paul’s Blues 2.  Toddy for the Body 3.  Uncle Santos 4.  Bloodcount 5.  Fishin’ 6.  Saturday Afternoon 7.  Raincheck 8.  No One Even Asked Me 9.   Short Bread 10.   The Mule 11.   Waltz Swing

Ed Symkus of The Tab:

Tenor man Tim Mayer offers up some of the warmest and swingingest sounds around. The Boston-based quartet is at it’s seamless best on Scott’s light and boppy “Saturday Afternoon,” while Billy Strayhorn’s “Raincheck” comes across as the most musically adventurous arrangement, and the title cut, penned by Mayer, makes for four minutes of total joy.

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“Every Time” – RUSTY SCOTT QUARTET (1997)

Rusty Scott (piano), Tim Mayer (sax), Keala Kaumehiewa (bass), Harold Layne (drums)

Track List 1.  Dog Tired 2.  Every Time 3.  Pulse 4.  Kiwi Ah-ha 5.  Cane Bay 6.  Blues for Luanda 7.  It’s Alright with Me

Cadence Magazine:

Every Time’s third cut, Pulse, is a classic example of traditional jazz sounds, spotlighting the rhythm section. [Tim] Mayer can completely energize the mood with his sax. My favorite track is Cane Bay, inspired by a favorite diving spot in St. Croix. It’s the kind of tune playing when you huddle up at a bar with a drink and a cigarette feeling completely sorry for yourself. It’s a beautiful melancholy jazz journey that leaves you encouraged in the end. It’s Scott’s and Mayer’s writing styles that make this an exceptional album.

The Rusty Scott Quartet combines traditional and modern jazz in a style all their own. Every Time is the best jazz CD I have heard in my years of writing for this magazine.

Douglas Sloan, Metronome Magazine:

Just when I was hoping for some well played jazz, up comes the Rusty Scott Quartet for review. This excellent band of musicians featuring pianist Rusty Scott and saxophonist Tim Mayer are some of the tightest jazz ‘cats’ you’ll hear on the Boston jazz scene. They incorporate their love of swing with a contemporary slant that is widely appealing and subtly sensual. Tim Mayer’s sax playing smokes while Scott’s piano playing is second to none. These guys are great! So, put ‘Every Time’ in your CD player and get ready to snap your fingers and tap your toes because, the Rusty Scott Quartet has arrived!”