Daze Work has been featured regularly at the top jazz venues in the Triangle. We perform a wide selection of standard and contemporary jazz, pop, and R&B classics featuring Bruce Smith on Piano/Keys/Vocals, Doug Mayes on saxophones, and Bill Hayes on Drums. We are available for weddings and private parties/events. The group is also available as a duo or quartet.
I hope that you will consider our wide variety repertoire for your restaurant, bar, party, corporate event, festival, winery, or wedding cocktail hour/reception. You will be delighted with the professionalism, sound, and value you receive.
14 reviews
Sarah H.
February 20, 2026They were amazing for our Mardi Gras Event, and I would easily recommend them to anyone! Look forward to having them back at our community as well.
Hired as: Pop Music
Cat D.
June 16, 2025Daze Work attended the Museum of Life and Science for an afterhours event, Science Distilled. They were amazing and everyone loved them.
Hired as: Jazz Band
Daze Work
Cat,
Thank you so much for a great evening for the band as well! We were happy to provide music for your guests!
Bruce Smith
Daze Work Bandleader
Oshonda M.
December 15, 2024Wonderful, just what I was looking for! My guest were pleased.
Hired as: Jazz Band
Daze Work
Thank you, Osha da! You group was so much fun and so kind to us! Merry Christmas!
Bruce Smith
Daze Work Bandleader
Julie C.
August 25, 2024The Daze Work Band truly exemplifies the magic of live music, transforming a 3-piece ensemble into a full-bodied experience. Their ability to span genres and captivate audiences speaks volumes about their talent and versatility. It's no wonder they receive such glowing reviews; they not only perform, but they also create an atmosphere that resonates with every listener, leaving a lasting impression that echoes well beyond the final note.
Hired as: Jazz Band
Daze Work
Thank you so much, Julie for that wonderful review! We had a blast performing for your group. We hope to get again in the future!
Bruce Smith
Daze Work
Debbie P.
October 14, 2023Even better than expected. Excellent music! Very professional. Will definitely hire these guys again! ❤️❤️
Hired as: Jazz Band
Price range: $400 - $1500
Languages: English
Gig length: 60 - 300 minutes
Daze Work has the ability to to fit into a small performance area, yet sound as full as a 4 or 5 piece ensemble. Our configuration is keyboards (including keyboard bass) and vocals (one person), drums, and saxophone. We perform a wide variety of music repertoire that covers everything from light/soft cocktail music to straight ahead swing jazz to contemporary jazz and fusion to funk, to R&B and Pop music suitable for a wedding reception to traditional ballroom dancing. Music from the 1930's to current day! It's all in a "Daze Work"!
Daze Work is a high energy jazz group that performs straight ahead, as well as contemporary and smooth jazz for almost any occasion. The group is made up of Bruce Smith on keyboard, keyboard bass and vocals, Doug Mayes on saxophones, and Bill Hayes on the drums.
This dynamic group performs the music of jazz giants Miles Davis, Dizzie Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Paul Desmond, and Stanley Turrentine while also performing great arrangements of contemporary fusion greats like Herbie Hancock, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Ronnie Laws, and Bill Withers.
Bruce Smith (keyboards) was a jazz pianist with the U.S. Army Bands before becoming a Warrant Officer Bandmaster. He was the Principle Conductor and Commander for bands in South Carolina, the Republic of South Korea, Alabama, and eventually the Staff Bands Officer for the US Army and US Army National Guard in Washington. Doug Mayes has been performing in the local jazz scene of Phoenix, AZ as well as Wilmington and Raleigh for many years entertaining crowds with his soulful style. Bill Hayes (drums) is the newest addition to Daze Work. Bill has been an active professional percussionist in the triangle for many years performing with orchestras, pit bands, and local bands throughout the triangle.
This group can also be configured into a Duo or Quartet as needed.
Stage requirements are minimal 25 foot wide by 15 foot deep staging area with electrical receptacles available and within 20 feet of the performance area. No lighting needs. We bring our own sound system.
Tuesday
Retirement Community Event
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Raleigh, NC
Thursday
Nonprofit Event
6:30pm - 9:30pm
•
Durham, NC
Saturday
Christmas Party
7:00pm - 8:30pm
•
Cary, NC
Saturday
Retirement Community Event
6:30pm - 9:00pm
•
Pittsboro, NC
Friday
Rehearsal Dinner
6:00pm - 8:30pm
•
Raleigh, NC
Thursday
Cocktail Party
6:00pm - 7:30pm
•
Raleigh, NC
Saturday
Christmas Party
6:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Raleigh, NC
Sunday
Christmas Party
2:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Angier, NC
Saturday
Nonprofit Event
6:00pm - 6:30pm
•
Raleigh, NC
Sunday
Birthday Party
6:30pm - 9:30pm
•
Raleigh, NC
Friday
Cocktail Party
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Cary, NC
Friday
Fundraiser
6:30pm - 10:00pm
•
Raleigh, NC
Thursday
Corporate Event
6:30pm - 9:00pm
•
Raleigh, NC
Monday
Christmas Party
7:30pm - 9:30pm
•
Cary, NC
Wednesday
Bruce and Mike w/Jim Ferris @ Travinia
6:30pm - 9:30pm
Friday
Bruce and Mike w/Jim Ferris @ C. Grace
9:00pm - 11:55pm
Wednesday
Bruce and Mike w/Jim Ferris @ Travinia
6:30pm - 9:30pm
Friday
Bruce and Mike w/Jim Ferris @ Brasa
7:00pm - 10:00pm
Wednesday
Bruce @ Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse
6:00pm - 9:30pm
Wednesday
Bruce and Mike w/Jim Ferris @ Travinia
6:30pm - 9:30pm
Friday
Bruce and Mike w/Jim Ferris @ Brasa
7:00pm - 10:00pm
Friday
Bruce and Mike w/Jim Ferris @ C. Grace
9:00pm - 11:50pm
Wednesday
Bruce and Mike w/Jim Ferris @ Travinia
7:00pm - 10:00pm
Saturday
Bruce and Mike w/Jim Ferris @ Circa 1888
8:30pm - 11:00pm
Wednesday
Bruce @ Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse
6:00pm - 9:30pm
Tuesday
Bruce and Mike w/Jim Ferris at Marriott Grnd Open
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Wednesday
Bruce and Mike w/Jim Ferris at Travinia
7:00pm - 10:00pm
Straight Ahead/Swing
All Blues (Miles Davis)
All Of Me (Michael Buble)
All The Things You Are (Frank Sinatra)
Autumn Leaves (Miles Davis)
Almost Like Being In Love (Nat King Cole)
Blue Skies (Ella Fitzgerald)
Boplicity (Miles Davis)
Birks Works (Dizzie Gillespie)
Bye Bye Blackbird (Peggy Lee)
Beyond The Sea (Bobby Darin)
Come Fly With Me (Frank Sinatra)
Dear Ole Stockholm (Miles Davis)
Dolphin Dance (Herbie Hancock)
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (Duke Ellington)
Fly Me To The moon (Frank Sinatra)
(A)Foggy Day (Frank Sinatra)
Footprints (Miles Davis)
Four (Miles Davis)
Frim Fram Sauce (Diana Krall)
Groove Merchant (Thad Jones)
How High The Moon (Frank Sinatra)
I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart (Duke Ellington)
It Don’t Mean A Thing If ...(Duke Ellington)
In A Mellow Tone (Duke Ellington)
Just Friends (Sarah Vaughn)
Killer Joe (Benny Goldson)
Lady Bird (Dexter Gordon)
Let’s Fall In Love (Ella Fitzgerald)
Lullaby of Birdland (Sarah Vaughn)
Moanin’ (Charles Mingus)
My Favorite Things (John Coltrane)
Route 66 (Bobby Troupe)
Sandu (Clifford Brown)
Satin Doll (Duke Ellington)
Sing, Sing, Sing (Benny Goodman)
Sister Sadie (Maceo Parker)
So What (Miles Davis)
Stolen Moments (Kenny Durham)
Sweet Home Chicago (Eric Clapton)
Summer Wind (Frank Sinatra)
Sugar (Stanley Turrentine)
Take 5 (Dave Brubeck)
Take The “A” Train (Duke Ellington)
There Will Never Be Another You (Ella Fitzgerald)
Work Song (Nat Adderly)
You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To (Ella Fitzgerald)
Ballads
Angel Eyes (Ella Fitzgerald)
At Last (Etta James)
Body and Soul (Coleman Hawkins)
Embraceable You (Frank Sinatra)
Georgia On My Mind (Ray Charles)
Here’s That Rainy Day (Bill Evans)
I Can’t Get Started (Frank Sinatra)
It Had To Be You (Harry Conick Jr)
Misty (Johnny Mathis)
My Funny Valentine (Frank Sinatra)
My One and Only Love (Ella Fitzgerald)
(The) Nearness Of You (Dianne Krall)
Over The Rainbow (Judy Garland)
Round Midnight (John Coltrane)
Sophisticated Lady (Duke Ellington)
(The) Way You Look Tonight (Frank Sinatra)
When I Fall In Love (Johnny Mathis)
What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
Latin
A Night In Tunisia (Dizzie Gillespie)
Black Orpheus (Jobim)
Blue Bossa (Kenny Durham)
C’est What? (Bud Shank)
Desifinado (Jobim)
Desperately (Kirk Whalum)
(The) Fool On The Hill (Beatles)
Green Dolphin Street (McCoy Tyner)
Girl From Ipanema (Jobim)
How Insensitive (Jobim)
(The) Look Of Love (Burt Bacharach)
Little Sunflower (Freddie Hubbard)
Meditation (Jobim)
One Note Samba (Jobim)
Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Jobim)
St Thomas (Sonny Rollins)
Song For My Father (Horace Silver)
Sway (Michael Buble)
Triste (Jobim)
Watch What Happens (Michel LeGrand)
Wave (Jobim)
You Are Sunshine Of My Life (Stevie Wonder)
Will You Still Love Me (Diane Krall)
Contemporary Jazz/Pop/R&B
Affirmation (George Benson)
After The Love Has Gone (Earth Wind & Fire)
Ain’t No Sunshine (Bill Withers)
Always There (Ronnie Laws)
Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)
Cockatoo (Spro Gyra)
Cold Duck Time (Eddie Harris)
Canteloupe Island (Herbie Hancock)
Catching The Sun (Spyro Gyra)
Chameleon (Herbie Hancock)
Fever (Peggy Lee)
Friends and Strangers (Ronnie Laws)
Heard That (Jeff Lorber)
How Sweet It Is (James Taylor)
I Just Wanna Stop (Gino Vanelli)
I Love You More Today (Spiral Staircase)
Isn’t She Lovely (Stevie Wonder)
Just The Two Of Us (Bill Withers)
Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
Lovely Day (Bill Withers)
Let’s Stay Together (Al Green)
(The) Midnight Hour (Wilson Pickett)
Moondance (Van Morrison)
Mornin’ (Al Jarreau)
Mustang (Jeff Lorber)
Mr. Magic (Grover Washinton Jr)
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (Canonball Aderly)
Morning Dance (Spyro Gyra)
Mornin’ (Al Jarreau)
On Broadway (George Benson)
One Hundred Ways (James Ingram)
Overjoyed (S Wonder/Easperanza Spaulding)
Peg (Steely Dan)
Red Baron (Billy Cobham)
Run For Cover (David Sanborn)
September (Earth Wind and Fire)
Superstition (Stevie Wonder)
Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)
The Badness (Jeff Lorber)
Soulful Strut (George Benson)
Smooth (Santana)
That’s The Way Of The World (Earth Wind & Fire)
This Masquerade (George Benson)
Tune 88 (Jeff Lorber)
Under The Boardwalk (The Drifters)
Up On the Roof (James Taylor)
Watermelon Man (Herbie Hancock)
We’re In This Love Together (Al Jarreau)
Winelight (Grover Washington Jr)
What’s Goin’ On? (Marvin Gaye)
What You Won’t Do For Love (Bobby Caldwell)
You Wind Me Up (Torsten Goods)
Stan Getz
Miles Davis
Dizzie Gillespie
Oscar Peterson
Stanley Turrentine
Al Jarreau
Bill Withers
Herbie Hancock
Grover Washington Jr.
Spyro Gyra
Jeff Lorber Fusion
Steely Dan
The Beatles
We have no required equipment for performances. We only require electrical outlets within 20 feet of our performance space.
Jazz Band
