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The DIVA Jazz Orchestra: DIVA + The Boys

By Dan Bilawsky
February 18, 2020
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The DIVA Jazz Orchestra: DIVA + The Boys

The all-female DIVA Jazz Orchesta has a boy-meets-girls story threaded into its origin, as drummer Stanley Kay served as the impetus behind the group's formation. Therefore, it's only fitting that the ladies have a few gentleman over to join them for some high times in the music every now and then.

This eight-song set, recorded live at Pittsburgh's Manchester Craftsmen's Guild in March of 2017, finds clarinetist

Ken Peplowski

woodwinds
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Ken Peplowski, dearly departed trumpeter

Claudio Roditi

trumpet
1946 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Claudio Roditi, trombonist

Jay Ashby

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jay Ashby, and guitarist

Marty Ashby

guitar
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">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

drums
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">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

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Norika Ueda's arrangement of

Benny Goodman

clarinet
1909 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">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

woodwinds

" data-original-title="" title="">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

saxophone, tenor
b.1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Roxy Coss into the spotlight for a nuanced take on

Antonio Carlos Jobim

piano
1927 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">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

trumpet
1917 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Dizzy Gillespie, of course, features Peplowski, Roditi, pianist Tomoko Ohno, and the song's composer, Jay Ashby;

Ivan Lins

piano and vocals
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">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

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Jami Dauber; and Roditi's "Piccolo Blues" presents with bluesy, down-home designs while showcasing the composer's titular trumpet,

Alexa Tarantino

saxophone, alto
b.1992

" data-original-title="" title="">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 finale—an energetic trip through

Plas Johnson

saxophone
b.1931

" data-original-title="" title="">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.

Learn more about our star rating system

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

drums

Tanya Darby

trumpet

Jami Dauber

trumpet

Rachel Therrien

trumpet

Barbara Laronga

trumpet

Alexa Tarantino

saxophone, alto

Scheila Gonzales

woodwinds

Janelle Reichman

woodwinds

Roxy Coss

saxophone, tenor

Leigh Pilzer

saxophone, baritone

Jennifer Krupa

trombone

Linda L Landis

trombone

Leslie Havens

trombone

Tomoko Ohno

piano

Noriko Ueda

bass

Ken Peplowski

woodwinds

Claudio Roditi

trumpet

Jay Ashby

trombone

Marty Ashby

guitar

The DIVA Jazz Orchestra

band / ensemble / orchestra

Album information

Title: DIVA + the Boys | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: MCG Jazz

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