The Diva Jazz Orchestra - "30" Live at Dizzy's - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, "30" Live At Dizzy's, from the Diva Jazz Orchestra and it's a big splash of big band. Opening with Bernstein's Something's Coming, the band is lead by drummer Sherrie Maricle with grand support from Liesl Whitaker on trumpet, Jami Dauber on trumpet, Kellin Hanas on trumpet and Barbara Laronga on trumpet. Jennifer Krupa on trombone, Sara Jacovino on trombone, Leslie Havens on bass trombone, Noriko Ueda on bass, Tomoko Ohno on piano and featuring Erica von Kleist on alto sax and Kellin Hanas on trumpet. Powerful opener. Sue Giles is featured upfront on vocal on Here's To Life with a light Latin rhythm and warm horn backing. On a swinging take on Memphis Slim's Every Day I Have The Blues, Giles is again upfront on lead vocal  with warm sax under the bottom and trumpets on top, this track has a great bass driven bottom. Schella Gonzales really wails on alto sax giving this track a real kick. One of the top jam tracks on the release is up tempo, Three Sisters and a Cousin with ripping solos by von Kleist, Gonzalez, Dreyer, Jade Elliott and Leigh Pilzer on sax. Nice! Wrapping the release is Charlie Christian's high speed, Airmail Special, featuring solos by von Kleist on  sax, Hanas on trumpet, Ueda on bass and Maricle on drums. Excellent closer. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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DIVA Jazz artist: The Diva Jazz Orchestra - Diva Swings Broadway - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, DIVA Swings Broadway, from the DIVA Jazz Orchestra and it's power horns to the max. Opening with Heart, there's no question that this band is loaded with brass lead by Liesi Whitaker, Jami Dauber, Rachel Therrien and Barbara Laronga on trumpet/flugelhorn and Jennifer Krupa, Sara Jacovino and Leslie Havens (bass) on trombone. Band leader, Sherrie Maricle on drums, Noriko Ueda on bass, Tomoko Ohno on piano hold down the bottom and Alexa Tarantino (also flute), Mercedes Beckman (also flute), Roxy Coss (also clarinet), Laura Dreyer (also clarinet) and Leigh Pilzer (bari, bass clarinet, flute and clarinet) on sax fill out the woodwinds sections. Coss on tenor sax, Dauber on trumpet and Krupa on trombone lay in nice solos making this opener memorable. Ueda is featured on bass solo on The Man I Love with a really nice intro and substantive soloing throughout over the piano counter of Ohno on piano and punchy horns filling out the accents. This is my favorite track on the release featuring this exceptional play.  Nicely balanced horns and woodwinds play the melody on Oh What A Beautiful Morning, over the supple improvisation by Ohno on piano. With a Latin rhythm held tight by Maricle, Therrien on flugelhorn and Dreyer on sax each contribute solid solos of their own making this another of my favorites on the release. Ohno, Laronga and Tarantino get the spotlight on Love Who You Love with a really nice flugelhorn solo by laronga, and extremely tasty soprano sax solo by Tarantino and Ohno's clearly fluid piano work. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Get Me To The Church On Time with a really cool stair stepping of instruments giving the sense of chiming. Maricle really has the drumset on point and Beckman and Tarantino again play alto solos that will lay you back in your chair. Excellent closer for a sneaky great release. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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