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The DIVA Jazz Orchestra: DIVA + The Boys
by Dan Bilawsky
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, dearly departed trumpeter Claudio Roditi, trombonist Jay Ashby, and ...
Continue ReadingThe DIVA Jazz Orchestra: DIVA + the Boys
by Jack Bowers
After more than twenty-five years as one of the world's most renowned big bands, drummer Sherrie Maricle's superlative all-female DIVA Jazz Orchestra invited a quartet of “the boys" onboard to help ensure the ensemble's twelfth album's success. Even though DIVA needs no consorts to affirm its unremitting mastery, it is nonetheless pleasurable to witness these talented women sharing the stage and blowing up a storm with such esteemed guest artists as clarinetist Ken Peplowski, trombonist Jay Ashby and (it hurts ...
Continue ReadingAlexa Tarantino: Winds of Change
by Mike Jurkovic
Coming at her music with an impressive embrace of style and tradition, and blending a natural youthful inquisitiveness and confidence to make the music her own, saxophonist-flautist and full-of-flair composer Alexa Tarantino--along with pianist Christian Sands, bassist Joe Martin, drummer Rudy Royston and trombonist Nick Finzer--makes big strides towards the limelight on her Posi-Tone Records debut as leader with the restorative and percolating Winds of Change. Over the last couple of years, Tarantino has been the much-talked-about spotlight ...
Continue ReadingNoah Preminger, Alexa Tarantino, Dave Douglas & More
by Bob Osborne
A mix of new releases this week, with music from Noah Preminger, Alexa Tarantino, Anthony Shadduck, Dan Phillips and Dave Douglas, plus some classic Thelonious Monk and other recent releases. Playlist Noah Preminger “World of Twelve Faces" from After Life (Criss Cross) 00:00 Anthony Shadduck “The Story of Maryam" from Quartet & Double Quartet (Big Ego Records) 10:13 Alexa Tarantino “Wisp After Wisp" from Winds of Change (Posi-tone) 16:33 Dan Phillips Quartet “Light at Depth" from Light at ...
Continue ReadingAlexa Tarantino: Winds of Change
by Paul Rauch
It is time we stop referring to saxophonist Alexa Tarantino as one of the “on the rise" young stars in jazz. She has arrived, and by the sound of things, she is here to stay. Sure, her new release Winds of Change is her debut solo recording as a leader, but her playing is well documented on her duo release Crossing Paths (Infinite, 2015) with pianist Dariusz Terefenko, as well as Posi-Tone releases with Lauren Sevian and Lioness. She has ...
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