Virginia Mayhew - Phantoms

relyles · August-1st-2003, 01:15 AM

Picked this one up based solely on the recommendation of a friend and gave it an initial listen. Impressed with my introduction to Mayhew's artistry. The disc features Mayhew on tenor and soprano saxophone, Ingrid Jensen trumpet and flugelhorn, Harvie S - bass and Allison Miller - drums and percussion. The disc has a nice mix of standards and originals with an overall contemplative mood. Despite the introspective nature of much of the disc there is enough variety so that the disc does not get bogged down in its own seriousness. There are fresh arrangements of the standard material that hold your interest and put a personal stamp on the interpretations. Comparisions to the sound of the Ornette Coleman quartet are not far flung, but this is by no means an avant garde recording. It does not sound like Coleman's classic quartet, but there is a subtle Ornette type vibe, or edge that appealed to me. The musicians play controlled, logical solos throughout. Mayhew has a full and smooth sound on the tenor. Jensen is very impressive and Miller's rhythmic patterns are dancelike at any tempo. Harvey S. has a deep bass sound and anchors the rhythm well.

All in all a very pleasant initial contact and I am looking forward to investigating this disc further.

kenny weir · August-1st-2003, 01:52 AM

Mayhew and Miller performed at the Melbourne Jazz Festial early this year and were pretty good. Miller was especially impressive, although I suspect that in the studio I would prefer her to be a little less busy. Perform their show Miller jammed with Sydney tenorist Roger Manins, with whom she worked in NY.

Nate Dorward · August-1st-2003, 06:54 PM

There was actually a thread on this a few months back--lemme try & bring it up..... --

Nate Dorward · August-1st-2003, 06:57 PM

Oh, must've been axed in the Great Dataloss Catastrophe of early '03. Never mind. I'd liked the disc modestly, though it hadn't strongly grabbed me. It has a strong opening, I recall (the first track, by the drummer if memory serves) & got a mite more ordinary as it went on. If you're curious I can dig up the review I wrote for Coda which I don't think has appeared yet.

steve(thelil) · August-2nd-2003, 01:14 PM

Allison Miller is GORGEOUS, btw.

alankin · August-5th-2003, 07:42 AM

A short review is here: jazzmatazz.home.att.net/reviews/03/r0307d.html

Tanager · August-5th-2003, 08:33 AM

You moved to http://jazzmatazz.info , right? B/c the URL you posted for your site at AT&T now 404s...

alankin · August-5th-2003, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tanager
You moved to http://jazzmatazz.info , right? B/c the URL you posted for your site at AT&T now 404s...

Either URL should work. But the specific one I posted should work. Can you try it again?

Lois Gilbert · August-5th-2003, 09:23 PM

Actually I started a thread on this months ago... Even though Virginia is a jazzcorner resident, I couldn't resist telling you how much I love this CD. Everything Alan said, I pretty much agree with. Speaking of which Alan please put a link to Virginia's site on your review. Thanks Lois

alankin · August-6th-2003, 06:24 AM

Is her site new? I don't links to any pages beyond the home page.

Lois Gilbert · August-6th-2003, 02:37 PM

No, her site has always been http://virginiamayhew.com

thanks