DIVA JAZZ ORCHESTRA - DIVA + The Boys
MCG Jazz MCGJ1047
Alexa Tarantino, Sceila Gonzales, Janelle Reichman, Roxy Coss, Leigh Pilzer/ Reeds. Tanya Darby, Jami Dauber, Rachel Therrien, Barbara Laronga/ Trumpets
Jennifer Krupa, Linda Landis. Leslie Havens/ Trombones Tomoko Ohno/ Piano Noriko Ueda/ Bass Sherrie Maricle/ Drums and Leader.
'The Boys' Ken Peplowski/ Clarinet, Claudio Roditi/ Trumpet, Jay Ashby/ Trombone and Percussion, Marty Ashby Guitar.
I must have been living a very sheltered life, because until this CD landed on the mat with a request for a review, I had never heard of the DIVA Jazz Orchestra! This ensemble has been in existence for 25+ years which is pretty good going considering the problems faced by the big bands over the years. Also add to this, as suggested by their name, it is an all-female band lead by Sherrie Maricle on the drums.
So what do we have on this CD? It was recorded in front of an enthusiastic audience at a concert celebrating 30 years of MCG Jazz( Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild) in Pittsburgh in March 2017. There are 8 tracks giving us 50+ mins of (in the main) melodic big band jazz expertly played by the Ladies. I am not too sure what the addition of 4 ‘boys’ ( Ken Peplowski, Claudio Roditi, Jay Ashby and Marty Ashby) bring to the party, in fact the latter doesn’t appear to get a solo. On 6 out of the 8 tracks the DIVA soloists are listed after the ‘guest’ soloists and the remaining tracks do not feature a DIVA at all. Perhaps the ‘guests’ were thrust on the band to increase audience attendance or perhaps the guests have other connections to the MCG, no details are given in the booklet. If I was female and was a proud member of this orchestra I think I would be a little peeved at the line up for such an auspicious anniversary.
The CD is well recorded and the tunes selected, by Goodman, Jobim, Kahn et al plus a couple by the ‘guests’ are very enjoyable and the CD is probably best suited for late night listening.
Reviewed by Clive Fleckner
MCG Jazz MCGJ1047
Alexa Tarantino, Sceila Gonzales, Janelle Reichman, Roxy Coss, Leigh Pilzer/ Reeds. Tanya Darby, Jami Dauber, Rachel Therrien, Barbara Laronga/ Trumpets
Jennifer Krupa, Linda Landis. Leslie Havens/ Trombones Tomoko Ohno/ Piano Noriko Ueda/ Bass Sherrie Maricle/ Drums and Leader.
'The Boys' Ken Peplowski/ Clarinet, Claudio Roditi/ Trumpet, Jay Ashby/ Trombone and Percussion, Marty Ashby Guitar.
I must have been living a very sheltered life, because until this CD landed on the mat with a request for a review, I had never heard of the DIVA Jazz Orchestra! This ensemble has been in existence for 25+ years which is pretty good going considering the problems faced by the big bands over the years. Also add to this, as suggested by their name, it is an all-female band lead by Sherrie Maricle on the drums.
So what do we have on this CD? It was recorded in front of an enthusiastic audience at a concert celebrating 30 years of MCG Jazz( Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild) in Pittsburgh in March 2017. There are 8 tracks giving us 50+ mins of (in the main) melodic big band jazz expertly played by the Ladies. I am not too sure what the addition of 4 ‘boys’ ( Ken Peplowski, Claudio Roditi, Jay Ashby and Marty Ashby) bring to the party, in fact the latter doesn’t appear to get a solo. On 6 out of the 8 tracks the DIVA soloists are listed after the ‘guest’ soloists and the remaining tracks do not feature a DIVA at all. Perhaps the ‘guests’ were thrust on the band to increase audience attendance or perhaps the guests have other connections to the MCG, no details are given in the booklet. If I was female and was a proud member of this orchestra I think I would be a little peeved at the line up for such an auspicious anniversary.
The CD is well recorded and the tunes selected, by Goodman, Jobim, Kahn et al plus a couple by the ‘guests’ are very enjoyable and the CD is probably best suited for late night listening.
Reviewed by Clive Fleckner
