Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
The inspiration for the DIVA Jazz Orchestra came from Stanley Kay, one-time manager and relief drummer for Buddy Rich. In 1990, he was conducting a band in which Sherrie Maricle was playing the drums. He immediately picked up on her extraordinary talent and began to wonder if there were other women players who could perform at the same level. What emerged was the dynamic force that holds forth to the present day. In the current edition of DIVA, 12 of the extraordinary 15-member ensemble are also gifted composers and arrangers. It was that realization that sparked music director Maricle’s vision for “DIVA 25th Anniversary Project”: an all-original DIVA-plays-DIVA recording. The result is 10 original compositions by 9 remarkable composers, writing for 15 friends in one amazing band.
Dan Pugach is a Brooklyn-based, two-time ASCAP Jazz Composer Award-winning drummer/arranger who has done work with Wayne Bergeron, Jeremy Pelt, Ingrid Jensen, Dave Stryker and Airto, among others. Originally from Israel, Dan served his mandatory three-year military duty as the drummer of the Air-Force Orchestra. He attended Berklee College of Music and the City College of New York, where he studied with Hal Crook, Joe Lovano, John Patitucci and George Garzone. His debut recording, “Dan Pugach Nonet Plus One,” features six of Dan’s originals and his remakes of compositions by Chick Corea, Ivan Lins and Dolly Parton.
Also this week, trombonist Michael Dease has assembled a new ensemble from the Posi-Tone Records stable of talented musicians for “Reaching Out”.
Saxophonist and
composer Peter Sommer has gathered up some of Denver, Colorado’s best for his new septet recording, “Happy-Go-Lucky Locals”.
Ian Shaw pays homage to female vocalists like Peg
gy Lee, Joni Mitchell and Phoebe Snow on “Shine Sister Shine.”
Shine Sister Shine
Ian Shaw – internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist, twice winner of BBC Jazz Awards Best Vocalist.