“What these women bring to the table is a finely tuned sense of democracy, style, purpose, and full intent to swing. Their equality and balance is in evidence right off the bat.”

ALL ABOUT JAZZ

About FIVE PLAY

FIVE PLAY, the sister group of the world-renowned DIVA Jazz Orchestra, was formed in 1999. The quintet is comprised of DIVA's rhythm section and two of its foremost soloists.

FIVE PLAY is:
Sherrie Maricle, music director/drums
Tomoko Ohno, piano
Noriko Ueda, bass
Jami Dauber, trumpet
Janelle Reichman, tenor sax/clarinet

FIVE PLAY is rooted in the jazz tradition and is fueled and inspired by the members’ collective, creative vision to swing through the twenty-first century. The quintet’s repertoire is comprised of innovative arrangements of classic and contemporary standards, as well as original music composed and arranged by band members. The group’s library was conceived to highlight the distinctive styles of each individual and to create a unique, exciting and powerful ensemble sound.

FIVE PLAY has performed at many of the world's most prestigious concert halls, music festivals and jazz clubs. From Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center and major festivals in Israel, Japan, France, Germany, Spain, Ireland and Portugal, the quintet never fails swing their listeners into happiness. In 2013 the group did an extensive State Department tour of Vietnam. They were the only American band that had ever performed in three of the country's major cities.  In 2004 the quintet was recognized in Downbeat Magazine’s Annual Readers’ Poll as one of the best small groups of the year. In 1999 their inaugural CD On the Brink was voted best CD of the year by jazz journalist icon Nat Hentoff.

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Style: "Neutral"

Meet FIVE PLAY

Sherrie Maricle drummer diva jazz band

Sherrie Maricle

Drums

Noriko Ueda

bass

Tomoko Ohno

piano

Jami Dauber

Trumpet

Janelle Reichman saxophone

Janelle Reichman

Tenor Sax & Clarinet
QUOTES ABOUT FIVE PLAY
"What these women bring to the table is a finely tuned sense of democracy, style, purpose, and full intent to swing. Their equality and balance is in evidence right off the bat.”

Michael Nastos, All About Jazz

“The most exciting set of the evening [at the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center] belonged to Sherrie Maricle and Five Play. What a bunch of hot tamales… In the jazz world, ensembles come and go, but here’s hoping Sherrie Maricle and Five Play stick around for a long, long time.”

The Washington Times

“To sum up, Five Play is a unit of brilliance; neatness personified – it swings, it entertains, it sounds happy and is surely as relaxed as a dreamless sleep…a pleasure of perfect unisons, dynamic tuttis, stirring up a sense of excitement which never pales for one instant.”

Crescendo and Jazz Music

“Five Play’s album ... doesn’t compromise on expressiveness, ideas or chops ... Five Play equals GREAT PLAY throughout this album.”

Jazz Times

FIVE PLAY Live in Action

FIVE PLAY
Live in Action