Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » The DIVA Jazz Orchestra: DIVA + The Boys
The DIVA Jazz Orchestra: DIVA + The Boys
ByThis eight-song set, recorded live at Pittsburgh's Manchester Craftsmen's Guild in March of 2017, finds clarinetist Ken Peplowski, dearly departed trumpeter Claudio Roditi, trombonist Jay Ashby, and guitarist Marty Ashby dropping in and adding to the excitement that this longstanding big band typically delivers all on its own. With Diva's leader, Sherrie Maricle, stoking the flames, some of jazz's world-class women tearing through some fine-tuned charts, and the guests sprinkling their own form(s) of magic on the mix, DIVA + The Boys proves dynamic from the first.
Opening on bassist Norika Ueda's arrangement of Benny Goodman's "Slipped Disc," DIVA quickly makes its mark by recontextualizing swing era sounds in a chipper, choro-esque matrix. Peplowski and Janelle Reichman take on the King of Swing's mantle, stepping out front as soloists on clarinet and adding a dose of pep to the proceedings. Sticking to Brazilian ideals, the band follows that introductory offering by bringing Roditi and saxophonist Roxy Coss into the spotlight for a nuanced take on Antonio Carlos Jobim's "A Felicidade."
From there, DIVA branches out in several different directions while highlighting the skills of its deep roster (and the boys). A swinging "Deference To Diz," nodding to the great Dizzy Gillespie, of course, features Peplowski, Roditi, pianist Tomoko Ohno, and the song's composer, Jay Ashby; Ivan Lins' "Noturna" adds a dose of balladic beauty to the playlist, with Ashby's trombone at center stage; a lively jaunt through the Gus Kahn and Isham Jones gem "The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else" beckons with appealing solos from Peplowski, Ohno, and trumpet Jami Dauber; and Roditi's "Piccolo Blues" presents with bluesy, down-home designs while showcasing the composer's titular trumpet, Alexa Tarantino's soprano saxophone and Jennifer Krupa's trombone.
The penultimate performance taps into intimacy and longing, as Peplowski's clarinet captivates while playing to romantic memories on Bruno Martino's "Estate." But the grand finalean energetic trip through Plas Johnson's "Bucket O' Blues"cuts the other way. It's all about joy, and in a big way. A blowing and trading session of a sendoff, it gives pause to admire the handiwork of the reed section and Ohno.
After more than 25 years together, and despite plenty of personnel changes along the way, The DIVA Jazz Orchestra, with or without some company, remains a force to be reckoned with.
Track Listing
Slipped Disc; A Felicidade; Deference to Diz; Noturna; The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else; Piccolo Blues; Estate; Bucket ‘o Blues.
Personnel
Sherrie Maricle
drumsTanya Darby
trumpetJami Dauber
trumpetRachel Therrien
trumpetBarbara Laronga
trumpetAlexa Tarantino
saxophone, altoScheila Gonzales
woodwindsJanelle Reichman
woodwindsRoxy Coss
saxophone, tenorLeigh Pilzer
saxophone, baritoneJennifer Krupa
tromboneLinda L Landis
tromboneLeslie Havens
tromboneTomoko Ohno
pianoNoriko Ueda
bassKen Peplowski
woodwindsClaudio Roditi
trumpetJay Ashby
tromboneMarty Ashby
guitarThe DIVA Jazz Orchestra
band / ensemble / orchestraAlbum information
Title: DIVA + the Boys | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: MCG Jazz
< Previous
Likewise
Next >
Purple Dark Opal
Comments
Tags
The DIVA Jazz Orchestra
Album Reviews
Dan Bilawsky
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
DIVA+The Boys
MCG Jazz
Sherrie Maricle
Stanley Kay
Ken Peplowski
Claudio Roditi
Jay Ashby
Marty Ashby
Norika Ueda
Benny Goodman
Janelle Reichman
Roxy Coss
Antonio Carlos Jobim
Dizzy Gillespie
Tomoko Ohno
Ivan Lins
Jami Dauber
Alexa Tarantino
Jennifer Krupa