Mary Lou Williams THE NEXT 100 YEARS Virginia Mayhew Quartet
written charts and arrange- Big Band to Bebop and even ments, which were so inspiring touched on Free Jazz. There’s that Virginia decided to under- so much to be explored in her take an even bigger project, music, from an arranger’s “Mary Lou WIlliams: The Next point of view, that I knew I had 100 Years.” The project was to do a bigger project than recorded in December 2010 just a few arrangements for a and features trombonist single gig.” Wycliffe Gordon, Ed Cherry on “The response to this project guitar, Harvie S on bass, and has been very enthusiastic," Andy Watson on drums. The says Virginia. "I'm already CD will be released on the In late 2009, jazz saxophonist- thinking of volume II!” Renma Recordings label in composer-arranger Virginia Spring, 2011. Funding for this project is Mayhew and Italian jazz provided by generous Jazz pianist Tony Pancella were “Although I was aware that fans. To date, enough money considering various female Mary Lou Williams was a well- has been raised for the studio jazz musicians on whom to respected jazz musician,” recording, but more money is focus for an upcoming Women offered Virginia, “I was needed for packaging, pro- In Jazz festival. At some point surprised by the depth and motion and touring. Please Tony realized that 2010 was breadth of her career — com- help us complete this great the 100th anniversary of Mary posing and arranging for Andy tribute to Mary Lou Williams. Lou Williams birth, and this Kirk and the Clouds of Joy in project began. the 30’s, arranging for Duke Thank you, Mary Lou Williams, Ellington and Benny Goodman, and Happy 100th Birthday!” During the course of her recording with tenor research, Virginia was in- giant Don Byas, and troduced to the executor of mentoring such Jazz Mary Lou’s estate, Father giants as Monk, Bud Peter O’Brien, who offered in- Powell, Dizzy valuable information and Gillespie and Bird music suggestions, and made (Charlie Parker), and arrangements for Virginia to all that in addition have full access to the Mary to leading her own Lou Williams Collection at groups. She covered Rutgers’ Institute of Jazz every major style Studies. The Jazz Institute has from Stride Piano to many of Mary Lou’s hand-
Photo credits: Mary Lou Williams, cover and top left ©William P. Gottlieb/Ira and Leonore S. Gershwin Fund Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress . Virginia Mayhew, bottom right ©Molly Feire-Hirsch. MARY LOU WILLIAMS Jazz Legend • Bandleader • Pianist • Composer • Arranger
Mary Lou Williams (May 8, 1910 – May 28, 1981) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Williams wrote hundreds of compositions and arrangements, and recorded more than one hundred records. Williams wrote and arranged for such famed bandleaders as Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, and she was friend, mentor, and teacher to Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie.
Jazz historians long ago concluded that Mary Lou Williams was the most important female jazz musician to emerge in the first three decades of jazz. William's multidimensional talents as an instrumentalist, arranger, and composer made her a star from her earliest days and, over the long haul, one of Jazz’s most beloved and treasured icons.
Very near the end of her life, Mary Lou reflected, “I did it, didn’t I?” Yes, you did Mary Lou, and the wonderful things you did will no doubt keep being done by inspired musicians for centuries to come!
VIRGINIA MAYHEW Group Leader • Saxophonist • Composer • Arranger
Saxophonist-composer-arranger Virginia Mayhew has been an active participant in the New York jazz scene since 1987. In the course of her career, Virginia has worked with such renowned artists as Earl "Fatha" Hines, Frank Zappa, James Brown, Al Grey, Junior Mance, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Doc Cheatam, Joe Williams, Leon Parker, Clark Terry, Kenny Barron, Chico O'Farrill, Ingrid Jensen, Claudio Roditi, Nnenna Freelon, and many others.
Virginia has appeared as a leader in most of New York City’s top jazz venues, as well as performed extensively throughout the United States, Europe, the Newly Independent States, Bermuda, Australia, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia. She has traveled twice as a representative of the United States as a Jazz Am- bassador, has 6 CDs under her own name, and many with others.
In addition to leading her own groups, Virginia is the musical director for the Duke Ellington Legacy Band and Duke Ellington Legacy Big Band. More info at: www.VirginiaMayhew.com.
Photo credits: Mary Lou Williams, top: ©William P. Gottlieb/Ira and Leonore S. Gershwin Fund Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress . Virginia Mayhew, bottom: ©Ulysses Beato . 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
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Mary Lou Williams Photo Credit: William P. Gottlieb/Ira and Leonore S. Gershwin Fund Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress. HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS
VIRGINIA MAYHEW VIRGINIA MAYHEW ©Ulysses Beato, 300 dpi CMYK TIFF ©George Kopp, 300 dpi RGB JPG Download File: Download File: GinnyPRCMYKRet300dpi.tiff 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 BOOKING & MANAGEMENT
The Virginia Mayhew Quartet, “Mary Lou Williams - The Next 100 Years”, is available for performance worldwide. Please contact us to schedule a performance! Contact: Jay Nachowitz Preferred Artists 914-441-1476 or [email protected]
Primary Websites: Virginia Mayhew www.virginiamayhew.com
Renma Recordings www.renmarecordings.com
Duke Ellington Legacy www.dukeellingtonlegacy.com
Additional Resources & Links:
MARY LOU WILLIAMS The Mary Lou Williams Foundation Mary Lou Williams Rutgers’ Institute of Jazz Studies
MUSICIANS Ed Cherry (guitar) Andy Watson (drums)
PHOTOGRAPHERS William Gottlieb, Paul Aresu, Ulysses Beato, Tom Contrino, Molly Feire-Hirsch
GRAPHIC DESIGN/DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY Veenix,LLC USA