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3Divas: 3Divas

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3Divas: 3Divas
Sherrie Maricle is the leader and drummer for The DIVA Jazz Orchestra, FIVE PLAY, and The DIVA Jazz Trio, co-leader of the 3Divas, percussionist with The New York Pops, and a published composer/arranger. The other 2Ds of the 3Divas are pianist Jackie Warren and bassist Amy Shook. Warren is known for her abilities in jazz, Latin jazz, and salsa. She currently performs with Maurice Hines' Off-Broadway hit Tappin' Thru Life with Maricle and The DIVA Jazz Orchestra. Warren also leads her own trio and Shook is an in-demand acoustic bassists known for her huge sound and infectious, driving groove. In addition to being a premier performing and recording artist, Shook is an accomplished composer, who co-leads the Shook/Russo 5tet, and performs regularly with the Fred Hughes Trio.

3Divas, the album, contains seven songs consisting of five standards, including John Denver's "Sunshine on My Shoulders" and Sonny Bono's "The Beat Goes On," adapted from Alan Baylock's arrangement. "Beautiful Love" starts the project, the melody is played over a pedal tone ostinato figure that is doubled by the left hand of the piano and the bass. Shook's intonation is excellent as Warren embellishes the melody in subtle ways over Maricle's light cymbal work. For the solo, the trio swings hard, Shook's big full bass sound sits perfectly in Maricle's brush work. The three are constantly interacting and building off each other. Warren has a beautifully exemplified lyrical solo style with prodigious use of chords to build energy and develop her solo lines. When Maricle switches to sticks, the three Divas swing hard, this is simply put -toe tappin' swing for days! Shook's solo is focused and to the point, with strong melodies and swinging time placement. Maricle trades eights for her solo, each phrase is a rhythmic treat of developing motifs placed by Warren in the previous statement.

Jobim's "Favela" is the trio's Latin tour de force. Warren shines on this one, from the opening montuno vamp, the trio is full of joy and celebration. The trio is obviously very well versed in the salsa language and this track has it all: the clave, montuno figures, syncopated bass lines, and above all, that special Latin sway. Warren's solo is a strong musical statement that has Maricle's kit supporting and commenting all the while. Again, one of the real treats of this project is the interaction between the players. A fine example is Shook's solo, the three constantly build on motifs played within the trio. Warren and Shook get into some special moments doing this at the end of her solo and end up playing some melodies in unison. Maricle's solo against the montuno is amazing, fast sticking across the set, playing with the time and above all else, grooving!

Track Listing

Beautiful Love; Sunshine on My Shoulders; Tennessee Waltz; I Thought About You; Favela; In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning; The Beat Goes On.

Personnel

Sherrie Maricle: drums; Amy Shook: bass; Jackie Warren: piano.

Album information

Title: 3Divas | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Diva Records

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