Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Virginia Mayhew: No Walls
Virginia Mayhew: No Walls
ByMayhew, a veteran of a dozen years on the New York scene and a former member of the great trombonist Al Grey's band, is a versatile performer equally at ease on tenor and soprano saxophones. Her sensibilites as a player and writer are thoroughly straight-ahead, but hardly predictable, ranging from the funky blues of the opener "Hi-Ya, Mama," to the plaintive "Never Enough," featuring some beautiful solos from the always remarkable Kenny Barron on piano. Along with four Mayhew originals, the album's highlights include a Latinesque take on Dave Holland's "The Oracle"; a romp through John Coltrane's "Grand Central," with plenty of room for hard blowing from Mayhew on tenor and Ingrid Jensen on trumpet; and a memorable Mayhew-Barron duet on the classic Duke Ellington ballad, "Don't You Know I Care (Or Don't You Care to Know?"). The title cut is a haunting, tender original by veteran bassist Harvie Swartz, who anchors the sextet's rhythm section.
With No Walls , Mayhew proves again that as a performer, composer and band leader, she's approaching the upper echelon of jazz artists. Well worth checking out.
Track Listing
Hi-ya Mama, Apple Flambe, The Visit We Missed, Never Enough, The Oracle, Grand Central, No Walls, Don't You Know I Care (Or Don't You Care to Know?, Mythology.
Personnel
Virginia Mayhew
saxophone, tenorVirginia Mayhew, tenor and soprano saxophones; Ingrid Jensen, trumpet; Kenny Barron, piano; Harvie Swartz, bass; Allison Miller, drums; Adam Cruz, percussion.
Album information
Title: No Walls | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: Foxhaven Records
< Previous
Lemme Tell Ya 'Bout Desmond
Comments
About Virginia Mayhew
Instrument: Saxophone, tenor
Related Articles | Concerts | Albums | Photos | Similar To