Bman's Blues Report

 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 Blue s, 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 kic...

  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 fil...