Album Review: The DIVA Jazz Orchestra "30" from The DIVA Jazz Orchestra

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Album:  The DIVA Jazz Orchestra "30"
Artist:  The DIVA Jazz Orchestra
Label:  DIVA Jazz
Website:  www.divajazz.com

Celebrating their 30th year of swinging around the world, The DIVA Jazz Orchestra earmark the occasion with their 2023 outing The DIVA Jazz Orchestra "30," recorded live at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club in New York City.  Featuring selections from the band's music library over the years, the recording elevates the body and calls for audiences to experience pure joy.

The DIVA Jazz Orchestra is described in their press release as "an ensemble of fifteen versatile, multi-generational musicians who expertly balance enthusiastic energy with sophisticated subtlety, virtuosity, and imagination."

Entwining elements of swing, torchlight blues, big band, and straight-ahead jazz, The DIVA Jazz Orchestra knows how to keep their audience dancing in the aisles.  "Every Day I Have The Blues," a persevering hit for Pinetop Sparks and Memphis Slim, showcases the indefatigable vocals of Sue Giles, whose persuasive phrasing pins all ears on her crooning.  The solo by Scheila Gonzalez on alto saxophone adds to the jovial mood.

The band's treatment of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's iconic melody "I Feel Pretty" is clad in frothy horns and a rhythmic beat that keeps the feet tapping.  Barbara Laronga's flugelhorn whips up merriment effortlessly, as Leigh Pilzer's baritone saxophone softens the festive ambience with graceful splashing.  The piece resonates like an MGM spectacular.

The band's tribute to Ella Fitzgerald is comprised of a few bars taken from Fitzgerald's repertoire, including "The Object of My Affection" by Jimmy Grier and Pinky Tomlin, "How High the Moon" by Morgan Lewis and Nancy Hamilton, "Stompin' at the Savoy" by Edgar Sampson, "A Tisket, A Tasket" by Fitzgerald and Van Alexander, and finishing with "Oh, Lady Be Good" by George and Ira Gershwin.  Giles's vocals glide across the repertoire with ease, beautifully nuanced in her phrasing and scat, and instinctually drawing out the lyrics intended effect.

Slowing to a torchlight, bluesy, ballroom stride through "Inka Dinka Doo," the band bejewels the track in the shimmering keys of Tomoko Ohno and the bopping beats of bassist Noriko Ueda, as the steady throbbing in Maricle's drums holds the melodic progressions cohesive.  The recording closes with the big band extravaganza "Airmail Special," composed by Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman and Jimmy Mundy.  This track has Erica von Kleist's solo on alto saxophone airborne and Kellin Hanas's solo on trumpet producing rustling streaks across the undulating swells of Ueda's bass pulls.  Maricle's drum solo is pulverizing.

Led by Maricle, The DIVA Jazz Orchestra incite excitement and a love for life that is steep in the mass consciousness.  Their interplay is distinctive, showing faith in themselves and each other, striking out with a bold sound and excelling the band among the cavalcade of modern big bands.  After 30 years of recording and performing, The DIVA Jazz Orchestra still sound strong and ready to embark on their next adventure.

Musicians (in alphabetical order):
Mercedes Beckman - alto saxophone
Jami Dauber - trumpet and backup vocals
Laura Dreyer - tenor saxophone
Jade Elliott - tenor saxophone
Leslie Havens - bass trombone
Sara Jacovino - trombone
Jennifer Krupa - trombone
Barbara Laronga - flugelhorn
Sherrie Maricle - drums and leader
Tomoko Ohno - piano
Leigh Pilzer - baritone saxophone
Alexa Tarantino - lead alto saxophone
Rachel Therrien - trumpet
Noriko Ueda - bass
Liesl Whitaker - lead trumpet

Special Guests (in alphabetical order):
Sue Giles - lead vocals
Scheila Gonzalez - alto saxophone and backup vocals
Kellin Hanas - trumpet
Erica von Kleist - alto saxophone

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