Virginia Mayhew
Saxophonist • Composer • Arranger
Bandleader • Educator
www.virginiamayhew.com
[email protected]
Virginia Mayhew
• biography •
Saxophonist/composer/arranger/bandleader Virginia Mayhew has been an active participant in the New York jazz scene since 1987, and has lead her own
groups for over 25 years. She currently leads several quartets, a quintet, and a septet.
In the course of her career, Virginia has worked with renowned artists from Earl
‘Fatha’ Hines, Cab Calloway, Frank Zappa, James Brown, Norman Simmons, Al
Grey, Junior Mance, Joe Williams, Chico O'Farrill, Marlena Shaw, to Toshiko Akiyoshi, Kenny Barron, Leon Parker, Ingrid Jensen, Claudio Roditi, Nnenna Freelon,
and many others.
Virginia has been a guest on Marian McPartlandʼs ʻPiano Jazz’, the featured artist on NPRʼs ʻAll Things Considered’, and has appeared twice on ʻJazz Setʼ with
Dee Dee Bridgewater. She was selected by Downbeat magazine as a 'Rising Starʼ
on soprano saxophone, and has been the subject of several feature articles in
Downbeat, Jazztimes and Jazziz magazines.
Her latest recording, Mary Lou Williams – The Next 100 Years, was just selected
by Downbeat as one of the Best New Releases of 2012 and by Rhapsody as one
of the ten best new CDs of 2012.
Virginia has appeared in most of New York City's major jazz venues (including
Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Town Hall, Jazz Standard, Blue Note, Sweet Basil,
Smalls), and has performed throughout the United States, Europe, Australia,
Southeast Asia as well as in the Caribbean and Bermuda. Virginia has also been
featured as a leader at many jazz festivals, both within the United States and
abroad, and has traveled twice as a representative of the United States as a Jazz
Virginia Mayhew • Website: www.VirginiaMayhew.com • Email: [email protected] • Phone: 917.608.7051
Virginia Mayhew
• biography •
Ambassador (in the tradition of Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington), once to the
Newly Independent States and a second time to Southeast Asia.
Early in her career, Virginia worked with veteran trombonist Al Grey for several
years. She is featured on his 1992 release, FAB (Capri), and contributed several arrangements to his 1995 CD, Centerpiece (Telarc). She also worked for several
years with Brazilian trumpet and flugelhorn player/ composer/ arranger Claudio
Roditi, and was recently part of ʻDreaminʼ the Duke', featuring Nnenna Freelon,
Harolyn Blackwell, Mike Garson, and Terell Stafford. In addition, Virginia freelances with in the NYC area.
Current Projects
Virginiaʼs current projects include a tribute to pianist/composer/arranger Mary Lou
Williams. Extensively researched, Mary Lou Williams - The Next 100 Years
(Renma Recordings), features Virginia's arrangements of eight MLW compositions
and two Mayhew originals. The group includes guitarist Ed Cherry, bassist Harvie
S, and drummer Andy Watson, with special guest Wycliffe Gordon (trombonist
Noah Bless plays most live quintet performances). This group has performed at the
Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., in Europe and in numerous other locations.
Virginia continues to develop the project by adding repertoire and arranging the
material for larger ensembles. (Please go to www.renmarecordings for reviews,
mp3s, and additional information.)
Virginia is also the saxophonist and musical director of the Duke Ellington Legacy, an 8-piece group founded by two of Duke Ellington's grandchildren, Edward
Virginia Mayhew • Website: www.VirginiaMayhew.com • Email: [email protected] • Phone: 917.608.7051
Virginia Mayhew
• biography •
Ellington II and Gaye Ellington. The Ellington Legacy is dedicated to keeping Ellington's music in the public ear through performances, recordings, and master
classes. The groupʼs debut recording, Thank You Uncle Edward, (Renma Recordings), features special guests Joe Temperley and Wycliffe Gordon. The sophomore
release, Single Petal of a Rose (Renma Recordings), features tenor great Houston
Person.
Another current project is a quartet with two horns, bass and drums. Virginia
utilized a similar instrumentation as for her very well-received 2001 'Phantoms'
project with Ingrid Jensen. (Please see review/quote pages.) The current quartet
features Noah Bless on trombone, Anthony Pinciotti on drums and Gary Wang on
bass. She continues to work with her Mary Lou Williams project, taking it
around the States and expanding the music for larger ensembles.
Virginia and Katherine Kramer, tap and modern dancer/ choreographer have created a multi-disciplinary group that utilizes tap dancing in place of a drum-set.
Katherine Kramer is an incredible master of her arts, and this project is really fun,
refreshing and entertaining. (video clips on site).
In addition to her weekly performances around the City as a leader, she freelances
and also performs weekly with Carl Thompson and Friends, and the Howard Williams Big Band.
Educator
Virginia has established her credentials in the field of jazz education, working
around the world teaching master classes, serving as an adjudicator (including for
Virginia Mayhew • Website: www.VirginiaMayhew.com • Email: [email protected] • Phone: 917.608.7051
Virginia Mayhew
• biography •
the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.), and as an experienced clinician and
Artist-In-Residence, (including University of Massachusetts, University of Louisville, Bloomsburg University, College of William and Mary, Montclair State College, and others). She also works with school and jazz program ensembles.
She is a teacher of private students, and works as faculty at numerous jazz
camps, (including Stanford Jazz Workshop, Monterey Jazz Festival summer camp,
Litchfield Jazz Camp, and Jazz Camp West).
She has worked with Don Braden's innovative program in Newark, NJ, Jazz For
Teens, as well as with Melissa Walker and Christian McBride's exceptional, Jazz
House Kids. Virginia founded the very successful, Greenwich House Music
School Jazz Workshop in New York City, and is currently the saxophone and jazz
teacher for Music for Nikhil, which offers 2-4 person group lessons once a week
to middle and high school students in West Orange, N.J.
Recording Artist
In addition to her recordings with others, Virginia has six releases as a leader, all
of which have all received rave reviews and lots of airplay. (Please see review/
quote sections.) In addition to radio play, and with her own station on Pandora,
Virginiaʼs recordings have been featured on HBO (television) and in movies. She
has been commissioned several times to write and arrange her compositions for
other groups, some of which have been recorded.
.......
Virginia Mayhew • Website: www.VirginiaMayhew.com • Email: [email protected] • Phone: 917.608.7051
Virginia Mayhew
• groups & projects •
VIRGINIA MAYHEW QUARTET
Mary Lou Williams
THE NEXT 100 YEARS
Virginia Mayhew
(tenor saxophone)
Ed Cherry (guitar)
Harvie S (bass)
Andy Watson (drums)
Download MLW Media/Booking Kit
VIRGINIA MAYHEW SEPTET
Virginia Mayhew
(tenor & soprano saxophones)
Lisa Parrott (alto & bari sax)
Scott Harrell (trumpet)
Noah Bless (trombone)
Kenny Wessel (guitar)
Harvie S (bass)
Victor Jones (drums)
DUKE ELLINGTON LEGACY
Art To Come
The Duke Ellington Legacy is a 9-piece
band led by Ellington’s namesake grandson, Edward Kennedy Ellington II.
The band is dedicated to keeping
the Duke’s music alive and
moving forward.
More info at DukeEllingtonLegacy.com
Virginia Mayhew • Website: www.VirginiaMayhew.com • Email: [email protected] • Phone: 917.608.7051
Virginia Mayhew
• recordings •
Virginia’s latest recording, “Mary Lou Williams - The Next 100 Years”
(Renma Recordings, 2011) is a spirited tribute to legendary Jazz pianist, composer and arranger Mary Lou Williams in honor of the 100th anniversary of her
birth (2010).
The CD features fresh Mayhew-arrangements of eight Mary Lou Williams
tunes and two new tunes composed by Virginia. The quartet features Virginia
on tenor saxophone, blues-tinged Dizzy-alum Ed Cherry on guitar, veteran bassist Harvie S, seasoned drummer Andy Watson and special guest trombonist
Wycliffe Gordon.
“...wonderful musically...
Mary Lou would be most pleased.”
—Father Peter F. O’Brien
Mary Lou Williams’ manager, long-time friend and director of the
Mary Lou Williams Foundation
•••
Mary Lou Williams Photo Credit: William P. Gottlieb/Ira and Leonore S. Gershwin Fund Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress.
Virginia Mayhew • Website: www.VirginiaMayhew.com • Email: [email protected] • Phone: 917.608.7051
Virginia Mayhew
• recordings •
Virginia’s 2008 recordings, “A Simple Thank
You” (Renma Recordings) with the Virginia
Mayhew Septet, and The Ellington Legacy’s
“Thank You Uncle Edward” (Renma Recordings) both feature larger ensembles.
The Virginia Mayhew Septet is the “Sandan
Shuffle” rhythm section (Kenny Wessel, Harvie S, and Victor Jones), and a 4-horn front
line. The Septet plays almost all originals, with
a few of Virginia’s arrangements of standards.
As with all of Virginia’s music, this is classic
jazz at its finest. Downbeat calls “A Simple
Thank You” a “first-rate outing ...a small bigband feel, a mainstream-with-twist sensibility,
solid writing and inspired playing.”
Virginia is the band leader and saxophonist of
the Duke Ellington Legacy and the Duke Ellington Big Band, led by Ellington's namesake grandson, Edward Kennedy Ellington II.
The Legacy’s debut CD “Thank You Uncle
Edward” is a wonderful, fresh take on Ellington’s music, with new arrangements by Norman Simmons and Virginia.
“Thank You Uncle Edward” is a “welcomed
addition of arrangements and interpretation of
the music of Duke Ellington” (Jazz Improv
Magazine), and was chosen “New and Noteworthy” by JAZZIZ magazine.
• • •
Virginia Mayhew • Website: www.VirginiaMayhew.com • Email: [email protected] • Phone: 917.608.7051
Virginia Mayhew
• recordings •
“Sandan Shuffle” (Renma Recordings, 2006) features
Kenny Wessel on guitar, Harvie S on bass and Victor Jones
on drums. New band members Wessel and Jones add a different sound to Virginia's music. All About Jazz asks,
“Who is this Virginia Mayhew woman, anyhow? Dexter
Gordon's daughter? Sonny Rollins' niece? She plays the
saxophone like a blood relative of those two giants.”
“Phantoms” (Renma Recordings, 2003) features Ingrid
Jensen, Harvie S, and Allison Miller with Virginia in a lessoften-found instrumentation (two horns, bass and
drums). A live performance of this group was the focus of a
one-hour feature on NPR's “Jazzset”. The group was also
on “Fresh Air” and the web stream site “All Songs Considered.” Royal Stokes of the Jazz Journalists Association selected “Phantoms” as one of 2003’s Top Ten Recordings.
Virginia's “No Walls” (Renma Recordings, 2000) gathered
rave reviews, and received a lot of airplay. “No Walls” again
features Kenny Barron, Ingrid Jensen and Harvie S, with
Allison Miller on drums and Adam Cruz on percussion.
“No Walls” was chosen Critics Pick 2001 by JAZZIZ
magazine, and one of the "Top Ten of 2001" by Cadence
Magazine. JAZZIZ: “My favorite disc of the young century...”
Virginia’s 1997 debut recording on Chiaroscuro Records,
“Nini Green” was chosen "Best New Release” by both Cadence and JAZZIZ magazines. Downbeat magazine gave
it four stars and called Virginia “… a fresh, intelligent, polished player.” This recording features Virginia’s long-time
collaborators Ingrid Jensen, Harvie S, Adam Cruz, Leon
Parker, as well as piano master Kenny Barron.
Virginia Mayhew • Website: www.VirginiaMayhew.com • Email: [email protected] • Phone: 917.608.7051
Virginia Mayhew
• discography •
2012 – Single Petal of A Rose – Duke Ellington Legacy – Renma Recordings
2011 – Mary Lou Williams - The Next 100 Years – Virginia Mayhew Quartet –
Renma Recordings
2008 – Thank You Uncle Edward – Duke Ellington Legacy – Renma Recordings
2008 – A Simple Thank You – Virginia Mayhew Septet – Renma Recordings
2006 – Sandan Shuffle – Virginia Mayhew Group – Renma Recordings
2003 – Phantoms – Virginia Mayhew Group – Renma Recordings
2003 – New York Still Life – Lou Caputo Not-So-Big Band
2002 – Live At The Garage – Howard Williams Big Band
2000 – No Walls – Virginia Mayhew Group – Foxhaven Records
1999 – Intersect – Sharp Five - Consensus Records
1999 – Jazz Nativity – All-Star Jazz Christmas Extravaganza (featuring Tito
Puente, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Jimmy Slyde, Dave Brubeck, Slide
Hampton, and others.)
1998 – Deadlines and Commitments – Ursel Schlicht/Tony Romano Group
1997 – Leave It To Diva – Diva Big Band featuring Sherrie Maricle – Diva Ltd.
1997 – Nini Green – Virginia Mayhew Group – Chiaroscuro Records
1995 – Centerpiece (arrangements only) – Al Grey Group – Telarc
1994 – No Man's Band – Diva Big Band featuring Sherrie Maricle
1992 – Fab - Al Grey Group (Capri)
1991 – Lady Bird – Sahib Shihab Big Band
1990 – It's About Time – Virginia Mayhew/Rebecca Franks – Philology Records
Download Quote Sheet PDF for Virginia Mayhew Recordings
Hear Music Samples at Renma Recordings
Virginia Mayhew • Website: www.VirginiaMayhew.com • Email: [email protected] • Phone: 917.608.7051
Virginia Mayhew
• high resolution photos •
VIRGINIA MAYHEW
©Ulysses Beato, 300 dpi CMYK TIFF
Download File:
GinnyPRCMYKRet300dpi.tiff
VIRGINIA MAYHEW
©George Kopp, 300 dpi RGB JPG
Download File:
Virginia_Mayhew_Studio.jpg
VIRGINIA MAYHEW QUARTET (left to right) Andy Watson, Ed Cherry,
Virginia Mayhew, Harvie S.
©Tom Contrino, 300 dpi JPG, Download: VM_BandPhoto.jpg
Virginia Mayhew • Website: www.VirginiaMayhew.com • Email: [email protected] • Phone: 917.608.7051
Virginia Mayhew
• booking & resources •
Virginia Mayhew and her groups are available for performance worldwide. Virginia is
also available for educational purposes. Please contact her for more information.
Booking Contact:
Jay Nachowitz @ Preferred Artists
[email protected]
914-441-1476
Primary Websites:
Virginia Mayhew
www.virginiamayhew.com
Renma Recordings
www.renmarecordings.com
Duke Ellington Legacy
www.dukeellingtonlegacy.com
Additional Resources & Links:
VIRGINIA MAYHEW MAGAZINE FEATURES
(Click to download full text PDF’S)
“Chamber Music of America” Magazine: “Sax in the City”
“Downbeat” Magazine: “Get Out There and Live”
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Tom Contrino, Paul Aresu, George Kopp, William P. Gottlieb
GRAPHIC DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY
Veenix, LLC
Virginia Mayhew • Website: www.VirginiaMayhew.com • Email: [email protected] • Phone: 917.608.7051