Girls DO Play Saxophone

When Virginia Mayhew was growing up in San Francisco, she was asked, in the fifth grade, what musical instrument she wanted to play. She said, 'Saxophone,' and was told, 'Girls don't play saxophone.' So she settled for clarinet. By the time she reached high school, though, she was allowed to play saxophone in the jazz band, and her teacher advised her to go to San Francisco's legendary jazz club, Keystone Korner, in order to hear some of the great saxophonists of the day. There, she heard Dexter Gordon, George Coleman, Archie Shepp and many others, who have contributed to her current distinctive sound.

A resident of West Orange, Mayhew has been active on the New York jazz scene for more than 25 years. She is musical director of the Duke Ellington Legacy Band and has led many of her own groups as well. Her recording, Mary Lou Williams -- The Next 100 Years (Renma Recordings) was selected as one of the "Best New Releases of 2012" by Downbeat Magazine. She was named a "Rising Star" by Downbeat  in 2007, has appeared on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz on NPR and appeared twice on NPR's Jazz Set with Dee Bridgewater. At noon on Thursday, December 5, she will be interviewed live by Rhonda Hamilton on WBGO 88.3FM.

Most importantly for residents of West Orange and surrounding communities, Mayhew will be bringing her quintet to the Luna Stage on Valley Road at 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 8, as part of the "Music in the Moonlight" jazz series. She will be paying tribute to one of her musical heroes, the late pianist-composer Mary Lou Williams, and will also be playing some of her own compositions. Joining her will be trombonist Noah Bless, guitarist Ed Cherry, bassist Harvie S and drummer Andy Watson.

An article in the December issue of Jersey Jazz Magazine described Luna Stage as "a perfect setting for small combo jazz. The room is a cozy as any club, but without the clinking glasses and annoying chatter." As for Virginia Mayhew, AllAboutJazz.com's Don McClenaghan asks this question: "Who's this Virginia Mayhew woman anyway, Dexter Gordon's daughter? Sonny Rollins' niece? She plays the saxophone like a blood relative of these two giants…" And Downbeat's Chris Robinson describes her tenor playing as '"simultaneously strong, swinging and supple."

To order tickets, log onto www.lunastage.org or call (973) 395-5551.