The Diva Jazz Orchestra

DIVA + The Boys

MCG Jazz

Perhaps we should start with MCG Jazz, an interesting organization that brings us the music. It is a social enterprise of Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, a subsidiary of Manchester Bidwell Corporation, a non-profit arts and learning center in Pittsburgh, PA. MDG Jazz preserves, presents, and promotes jazz through: a subscription based annual concert series featuring legends and emerging artists, a recording label, educational programs serving elementary, middle school and high school aged students; and an archive of audio/video recordings, photographs, interviews, and individual artist collections. Visit mcgjazz.org

Their latest project is the third with MCG for the DIVA Jazz Orchestra – a big band of 15 musicians – all female. Some, such as saxophonists Janelle Reichman and Roxy Coss, are bandleaders. This project, a live recording of their performance on the MCG Jazz stage, has them playing with outstanding male guest soloists – clarinetist Ken Peplowski,  trombonist Jay Ashby, trumpeter Claudio Roditi and guitarist and MCG Jazz Executive Producer Marty Ashby. Thus  DIVA + The Boys.

This is a wide ranging group of compositions, some from the guest soloists, standards, and famous Brazilian jazz songs. This is a highly versatile band that begins with Benny Goodman’s swinging “Slipped Disc,” arranged by DIVA bassist Noriko Ueda, obviously a vehicle for Peplowski with Reichman also soloing on clarinet. “A Felicidade,” from Jobim and Vincicius De Moreas, has Roditi soloing as well as Roxy Coss. “Deference to Diz” is soloist Jay Ashby’s contribution and features solos by him, Roditi, and Peplowski with DIVA pianist Ramaka Ohno joining in her own. Ashby also arranged “Nocturna,” an ensemble piece where he is the only soloist.

The standard “The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else” features Peplowski with DIVA turns from trumpeter Jami Douber and pianist Ohno. Roditi penned “Piccolo Blues,” in which he solos on piccolo trumpet with DIVA soloists Alexa Tarantian on soprano and Jennifer Krupa on trombone. Peplowski returns as the only soloist on “Estate, “ giving the album a very heavy clarinet feel, considering his several spots. The band compensates somewhat with the sax heavy closer Bucket O’ Blues” without any of the male soloists. Instead we have six DIVA soloists – Reichman (tenor), Schella Gonzales (alto), Tarantina (alto), Coss (tenor), Leigh Pilzer (baritone) and Ohno (piano).

In addition to the spirited, dynamic music, the story of The DIVA Jazz Orchestra is intriguing. The inspiration for DIVA came from Stanley Kay, one-time manger and relief drummer for Buddy Rich. In 1990, Kay was conducting a band in which Sherrie Maricle was playing the drums. Stanley was immediately impressed with her talent and began to wonder if there were other women who could play at the same level. In 1992  a search began with nationwide auditions and the band has been in place, obviously with some rotating players, since 1994. With New York as their home base, they play all over the world and Maricle remains the bandleader.

DIVA has been playing the MCG stage since their inception. They have released several albums but with MCG they have 2014’s A Swingin’ Life and a live date similar to this one with NEA Jazz Master, the late Nancy Wilson. Visit divajazz.com for more information.

These kinds of projects along with many university and youthful ones prove without a doubt that jazz is alive and building a strong future that incorporates past traditions but keeps moving forward.

• Jim Hynes