Michael Mayo’s Grammy Moment
Coming to Pittsburgh's MCG Jazz this Season
GRAMMY® magic is once again coming to Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild this season!
We’re honored to welcome acclaimed vocalist and composer Michael Mayo to the MCG Jazz stage on Saturday, February 28, 2026, alongside Endea Owens & The Cookout. Just weeks before his appearance in Pittsburgh, Mayo will head to Los Angeles for the 2026 GRAMMY® Awards, where he’s been nominated for two categories that mark a major milestone in his fast-rising career.
The Nominations
Michael Mayo’s acclaimed album Fly and his dynamic take on “Four” have earned him GRAMMY® Award nominations in two of the year’s most prestigious jazz categories:
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Best Jazz Performance – “Four”
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Best Jazz Vocal Album – Fly
These nominations place Mayo among a distinguished group of jazz artists recognized this year, including Samara Joy, Lakecia Benjamin, and the late Chick Corea.
LA Weekly praised him as “without a doubt the best young male jazz singer in Los Angeles,” and these GRAMMY® nods affirm what audiences and critics have recognized all along—Mayo is helping shape the sound of modern jazz.
A Voice Rooted in Excellence
Born in Los Angeles in 1992, Michael Mayo grew up surrounded by music. His mother performed with icons such as Whitney Houston and Diana Ross, while his father played saxophone in ensembles with Earth, Wind & Fire. He later studied at the New England Conservatory of Music and at the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, where he learned under some of the genre’s greatest mentors.
What makes Mayo unique is his ability to use the human voice as both instrument and storyteller. He layers harmonies, explores rhythm through beatboxing, and delivers soulful, expressive phrasing that feels both timeless and new. His work blends the richness of jazz tradition with the immediacy of neo-soul and the creativity of vocal improvisation.
His 2024 release, Fly, is a tour de force of contemporary jazz vocal artistry, showcasing his range as a singer, arranger, and composer. The album bridges original compositions and inventive reinterpretations of standards. The title track and his reimagining of “Four” exemplify his seamless balance between emotional depth and technical brilliance.
What to Expect at the Show
On February 28, Mayo will share the stage with another powerhouse of today’s jazz scene—Endea Owens & The Cookout. Detroit-raised bassist and composer Endea Owens, known for her work with The Late Show Band, has been mentored by jazz legends Marcus Belgrave, Rodney Whitaker, and Ron Carter.
This double bill promises an evening of exceptional artistry and energy. Audiences can expect a program that blends neo-soul grooves, intricate jazz vocal arrangements, improvisation, and the kind of synergy that defines great live jazz. Together, Mayo and Owens represent the next generation of artists carrying the tradition forward with authenticity and innovation.
The GRAMMY® Awards ceremony takes place on February 1, 2026, less than a month before Mayo’s MCG Jazz performance.
Whether he takes home a trophy or not, audiences will experience a GRAMMY®-nominated artist performing at the peak of his creative powers—up close in one of the most intimate and acoustically renowned jazz venues in the country.
Performance Details
Endea Owens & The Cookout with Michael Mayo
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Shows at 6:00 PM & 8:30 PM
MCG Jazz
This engagement is made possible in part through the Jazz Touring Network program of Mid Atlantic Arts, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
As always, we invite guests to arrive early to enjoy the atmosphere and the personal connection that make performances at MCG Jazz so special. Also, be sure to check out our awesome Jazz is Life Kiosk in the newly-remodeled Box Office. (It’s beautiful, if we do say so ourselves.)
Tickets are available now at mcgjazz.org or by calling the Box Office at (412) 322-0800.
Join us as we celebrate jazz’s present and future—and experience a nice evening featuring two of the genre’s most exciting young voices!
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