Renma Recordings President and saxophonist Virginia Mayhew is pleased to announce that she has joined the roster of teaching artists at Litchfield Jazz Camp. Under the artistic direction of saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator Don Braden, the camp hosts resident artists and guest clinicians who are at the top of their game. Litchfield Jazz Camp runs from July 6th through August 1st on the campus of the Forman School in Litchfield, Connecticut. This lovely setting is just a block from the sophisticated downtown of one of America's most visited 18th century villages -- a great place for friends and relatives to check out when visiting students. Litchfield Jazz Camp's Music Director, Don Braden, and his resident artists guide students through classes in performance, improvisation, jazz history, rhythm and percussion, music theory, the business of music, composition, a two-week recording intensive and a newly added American Songbook workshop. Instruction is offered in voice, piano, guitar, bass, drums, Latin rhythms, saxophones, clarinet, flute, and brass. Evening jam sessions and resident and visiting artist concerts are a bonus, and families are invited to attend. For more info about the Litchfield Jazz Camp & Festival visit: www.litchfieldjazzfest.com. . . . . . . .

NEWS | SPRING 2008 Virginia Mayhew Septet Releases "A Simple Thank You" On the strength of her musicality, animated imagination and her technical prowess, Virginia Mayhew ranks among the finest saxophonists in New York City. Proof of her ample artistic gifts, which encompass composing and arranging as well as performing, is found on the new Virginia Mayhew Septet recording titled "A Simple Thank You." This release, her fifth overall and the first to feature the Septet, appears March 18th on Renma Recordings. Mayhew, whose exceptional tenor and soprano work appears in nine songs, composed six of the nine. Her working Septet rises to the occasion with ease, staying fully involved with the music and never lapsing into a workmanlike mode like so many other bands. Mayhew is, indeed, fortunate to have such vastly creative musicians on the session: her core rhythm section of Kenny Wessel on guitar, Harvie S on bass, and Victor Jones on drums, along with Noah Bless on trombone, Scott Harrell on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Lisa Parrott on alto and baritone saxophones, along with special guests trumpeter extraordinaire Ingrid Jensen and veteran percussionist Mayra Casales. Mayhew says of "A Simple Thank You": "I'm particularly proud of it because I had wanted to write for a larger ensemble for years, and right after I finally wrote the music and performed it for the first time [in 2005], I got cancer and had to put the band on the back burner." As for the band: "The Septet is a natural outgrowth of my Sandan Shuffle CD (with Wessel, Harvie S, Jones) plus three additional horns. The Septet incorporates my long-time passions for Big Band Jazz, Latin music, composition, and improvisation. It's a fresh, exciting and swingin' combination." "A Simple Thank You" draws the listener into its music with a world of strong melodies, intriguing harmonies, surprising meters and musical detail, everything underpinned by honest emotion. The minor blues "Just A Blues" may sport an ironic title from its composer, Mike Mayhall, but the performance is anything but predictable. Solos from, respectively, Parrott (alto), Mayhew (tenor), Wessel (guitar) and Jones (drums) all shimmer with eloquence in an organic flow. Artistic command goes hand in hand with impeccably executed technique on the other tracks as well. Played with unstudied grace, Harvie S's "A Simple Thank You" is an affecting, melodic homage to his friendship with Mayhew, whose tenor along with Jensen's trumpet provide gliding uplift in their respective spots. The rhythm section is empathetic without any trace of sentimentalism. The composer's bass solo comes from the heart. Mayhew breathes restrained passion on soprano sax playing "Spring Is Not Here", which first appeared in quartet format on Mayhew?s much lauded 2005 release Sandan Shuffle. The title track of that album returns as well, groovin' even harder than on Sandan Shuffle, with the 4-piece horn section revisiting a classic R&B sound. "One for the Parking Fairy", yet another outstanding Mayhew original, goes the Latin route with percussionist Casales inspiring the rhythm section. Originally from San Francisco, Mayhew appeared on the NYC jazz scene in 1987 while studying at the New School. Over the years, she has performed with numerous jazz musicians, including historical greats Al Grey, Clark Terry, Norman Simmons, and Joe Williams, as well as modern masters Toshiko Akiyoshi, Kenny Barron, and Claudio Roditi. She's appeared on the stages of many of the top clubs and festivals in the world, even traveling twice as a State Department-designated "Jazz Ambassador" to independent states in the former USSR and to Southeast Asia, respectively. In addition to her Septet and a Quartet with superlative pianist Norman Simmons, she is Musical Director and saxophonist with the 9-piece Duke Ellington Legacy, whose new recording "Thank You Uncle Edward" also appears March 18th on the Renma label. Mayhew is also renowned for her contributions as a jazz educator. Mayhew's previous recordings "Nini Green" (1997 with special guest pianist Kenny Barron), "No Walls" (1999 Barron, again), "Phantoms" (2003), Sandan Shuffle (2005) have garnered considerable praise. The Village Voice's Gary Giddins raved: "[Nini Green is] a real breakthrough for her as leader and saxophonist." All About Jazz, Cadence, DownBeat, and Jazz Times are among many media outlets that have praised her work. Some of New York's best jazz musicians grace "A Simple Thank You." Bassist Harvie S has worked with countless musicians, not least Stan Getz, Sheila Jordan and Joe Lovano. Guitarist Kenny Wessel's credits include Ornette Coleman and John McLaughlin. Drummer Victor Jones has gigged and/or recorded with a veritable who's who of jazz: Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, and James Moody among others. Trombonist Noah Bless performs with, among others, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Saxophonist Lisa Parrott, a native of Australia, has been heard with DIVA, Dave Brubeck, and many others. Trumpeter Scott Harrell has been a member of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Maria Schneider Orchestra, and the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni Band. Percussionist Mayra Casales has extensive credits, including Regina Carter, Celia Cruz and Machito. Ingrid Jensen is widely hailed as one of the leading trumpeters in jazz. In addition to leading her own groups she has performed or recorded with the Maria Schneider Orchestra, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Geoff Keezer, Frank Wess, Clark Terry, DIVA and many others. [back to main news page] . . . . . . .