Jazz vocalist, composer and songwriter Michael Mayo, who uses vocal layering, beatboxing and improvisation to create contemporary jazz with elements of neo-soul and R&B, will perform Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Play Circle Theater at Memorial Union. The concert is part of the Wisconsin Union Theater’s (WUT’s) 2026-27 Jazz Series.
The Los Angeles-based artist has toured with Herbie Hancock and released albums “Bones” in 2021 and “Fly” in 2024. “Fly” earned Mayo his first two Grammy nominations. The album was nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album, while his recording of jazz standard “Four” received a nomination for Best Jazz Performance.
Mayo studied at the New England Conservatory of Music and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz at UCLA, now known as the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz.
Mayo grew up surrounded by music. His mother, Valerie Pinkston, has performed as a background vocalist with many artists, including Beyoncé, Whitney Houston and Diana Ross. His father, Scott Mayo, played the saxophone with Earth, Wind & Fire. Mayo said he knew by age 5 that he wanted to become a singer.
“Michael Mayo creates layers of sound, improvises and moves between different musical styles with such ease,” WUT Director Elizabeth Snodgrass said. “I think audience members are going to have fun seeing how he puts many vocal techniques together. His work draws on a wide range of music influences and his personal experiences, creating opportunities for audience members to connect with his music on multiple levels.”
Tickets are $15 for current UW–Madison students, $20 for other students and patrons age 17 and younger, $66 for Wisconsin Union lifetime and annual members and UW–Madison staff, and $72 for the general public.
Tickets are available online at union.wisc.edu/events-and-activities/event-calendar/event/theater-michael-mayo, in person at the Memorial Union Box Office, or by phone at 608-265-2787. The performance is available as part of a build-your-own subscription, which offers a savings of up to 20%.
The performance is presented by WUT and the student-led Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Performing Arts Committee (PAC), with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Wisconsin Arts Board.
Ticket purchases support WUT’s ability to provide not only performing arts venues and arts programming but also student leadership and hands-on learning opportunities through both WUD PAC and student employment.