Mason Bays

I was born in Pontiac in 1992 and spent most of my childhood in Lake Orion. I was diagnosed with autism between the ages of 3 and 4. I picked up the trumpet during the 3rd grade and had my first lesson at age 12. I graduated from Goodrich High School in 2012, with Magnum Cum Laude Honors. 

My introduction to jazz began in the 9th grade in the Goodrich HS Jazz Band, while my overall musical inspiration came from my first trumpet teacher Caroline Cates. I attended and graduated from Oakland University, with a major in Bachelor of Arts in Music, and a minor in Jazz studies; and have performed with the OU big band with special guest artists: Regina Carter, Scott Gwinell, John Douglas, Rayse Biggs, and others with Pat Cronley, Bill Meyers, Gwen Hemphill, Marcia Allen, John Hill, and others. I am currently part of the Gary Greenfelder Orchestra, perform sometimes with the Kennebec Avenue Group, formed my own Jazz/funk quintet, and have appeared at clubs and breweries like the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, Bert’s Marketplace, Homegrown Brewing Company, Club 54, Arts Beats and Eats Festival and others. 

My goal is to inspire others, along with spreading the awareness of autism and good vibes with my music. 

About the Quintet: as a group, we perform our own arrangements of covers from internationally and nationally famous artists like Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Chuck Mangione, Herbie Hancock, Motown greats like Stevie Wonder, and more; in addition to our own original compositions and arrangements of some of the most well known Jazz standards of our time.

These performances will include the talents of: