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The DIVA Jazz Orchestra: DIVA + the Boys
ByThe performance consists for the most part of original compositions including one each by Jay Ashby ("With Deference to Diz") and Roditi ("Piccolo Blues") to reinforce a pair of Latin-based numbers and the lone standard, Gus Kahn / Isham Jones' "The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else." Peplowski starts the ball rolling on bassist Noriko Ueda's alluring arrangement of Benny Goodman's playful "Slipped Disc" with DIVA's Janelle Reichman matching him stride for stride and note for note while Maricle provides unerring rhythmic support. Roditi is up next, infusing Antonio Carlos Jobim's softly flowing "A Felicidade" with warmth and awareness but no more so than tenor saxophonist Roxy Coss who faces Roditi's daunting challenge head-on and passes with flying colors before Ueda weighs in with some resourceful ad libs of her own.
"Deference to Diz" is a sunlit old-line swinger whose bright-eyed soloists are Peplowski, Ashby, Roditi and pianist Tomoko Ohno. Jay Ashby arranged and solos on Ivan Lins / Vitor Martins' lush and lovely ballad "Noturna," foreshadowing "The One I Love," on which Peplowski, Ohno and trumpeter Jami Dauber take full advantage of the well-grooved tempo to offer deft and earnest solo statements. Roditi returns, this time on the seldom-heard piccolo trumpet, on Scott Arcangel's deft arrangement of Roditi's loping "Piccolo Blues." DIVA's able soloists are trombonist Jennifer Krupa and soprano Alexa Tarantino (with admirable backing once again from Maricle, Ohno and Ueda). Peplowski's burnished clarinet is showcased on the even-tempered "Estate" before the orchestra rings down the curtain with Plas Johnson's high-flying "Bucket 'O Blues," wherein every member of the reed section (soprano Tarantino, alto Scheila Gonzales, tenors Reichman and Coss, baritone Leigh Pilzer) solos and trades four-and two-bar volleys before giving way to Ohno, then reconvening to unravel the elaborate melody in unison and await one last well-deserved round of applause.
In concert or anywhere else, DIVA remains at the head of the big-band class, with or without help from "the boys." On the other hand, its latest recording benefits enormously from the maturity and perception of Messrs. Peplowski, the Ashby brothers and Roditi, whose conclusive artistry adds the icing to this cake. For audience and listeners, an unequivocal win-win experience.
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
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About The DIVA Jazz Orchestra
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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