This 25 year milestone inspired Music Director/Drummer, Sherrie Maricle, to reflect deeply about the rich history of the band, the profusion of outstanding players who helped create their unique style and sound and the multitude of extraordinary composers and arrangers who provided the band with magnificent, original music to channel their skills, creativity and passion. To honor the legacy of the band and their founder Stanley Kay, Sherrie wanted to come up with a special way to capture the diverse and dynamic history of the band and recognize their ever-evolving approach to presenting and performing mainstream jazz.
In the current edition of The DIVA Jazz Orchestra, 12 of the extraordinary 15 member ensemble are also gifted composers and arrangers. It was that realization that sparked Sherrie’s vision for DIVA’s 25th Anniversary Project: An all original DIVA plays DIVA recording. Since most of the band members have been in the band 10+ years, and the newer members were once young fans, it was thrilling to imagine and realize a recording created by band members who have played together for years, who helped forge DIVA’s style and sound, who know the band’s history, who know and respect each other musically and who genuinely like each other. This Cd offers our listeners 10 original compositions, by 9 remarkable composers, writing for 15 friends in 1 amazing band. It’s DIVA’s mission to continue to swing hard and grow through the exceptional individual talent within the band and their extraordinary composers and arrangers.
