“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

FIVE PLAY is:
Sherrie Maricle, Music Director / Drums
Tomoko Ohno, Piano
Noriko Ueda, Bass
Kellin Hanas, Trumpet
Laura Dreyer, Tenor Sax / Clarinet

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 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.

“The most exciting set of the night 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 [this band] stidks around for a long, long time.”

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

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“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.”

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Meet FIVE PLAY

Click on any photo to read a band member's full bio!

Sherrie Maricle, Leader & Drummer

From the drum set Sherrie leads The DIVA Jazz Orchestra, her quintet FIVE PLAY, The DIVA Jazz Trio and co-leads the 3Divas.

“Maricle drove the evening’s music along with a contained fury of the power plant of a nuclear submarine…” - All About Jazz

From Carnegie Hall, she performs with The New York Pops and from celebrated stages everywhere, she is music director and drummer for Broadway star Maurice Hines. Sherrie is also a busy freelance performer and a published composer/arranger.

Sherrie has received several awards and honors which include a 2014 Ovation award for “Best Music Direction” in Tappin Through Life; the 2009 Mary Lou Williams-Kennedy Center Lifetime Achievement Award, a 2013 State Department grant for FIVE PLAY to tour Vietnam, a tour grant from Arts International, The Kennedy Center Alliance Award for Outstanding Achievements in the Arts, a grant from Meet the Composer, a Doctoral Fellowship from New York University, the New York City Music Educator’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and was twice selected New York University “Music Teacher of the Year.”

Sherrie Maricle

Drums

Noriko Ueda, Bass

Noriko Ueda is originally from Hyogo, Japan. Her interest in music began early in her life, studying classical piano at the age of 4. At 16, she began playing the electric bass. At age 18, she began her career with the upright bass. Noriko was the B.E.S.T. scholarship recipient for the Berklee College of Music in Boston where she majored in Jazz Composition, graduating in 1997. She then relocated to NY.

“She totally rocked the band with her huge, rich, and clear swinging sound." - Rufus Reid

Noriko has performed at many historical jazz venues include Carnegie Hall, Blue Note NY, Jazz at Lincoln Center - Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Kennedy Center, Birdland and Small’s. She also performed, toured and recorded with various groups including the legendary Frank Wess Quintet and his Nonet, Ted Rosenthal Trio, Sherrie Maricle and The DIVA Jazz Orchestra, Five Play, Grady Tate Band, Harry Whitaker Band, Marion Cowings, Makoto Ozone and Terumasa Hino.

View Noriko's Website

Noriko Ueda

Bass

Tomoko Ohno, Piano

Tomoko Ohno has performed at Lincoln Center, Weill Recital, Carnegie Hall, The Blue Note, Birdland, in addition to appearing on live radio broadcasts by WBGO and WNYC, and ABC TV's Good Morning America. She has performed and/or recorded with Slide Hampton, Claudio Roditi, James Spaulding, Rufus Reid, The John Lee Quartet, The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni Big Band and Sherry Maricle and the Diva Jazz Orchestra, as well as working as a side musician with such diverse musical ensembles as the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble and The Spirit of Life Ensemble.

Miss Ohno also leads her own group, and has released three CDs on the Japan-based Tokuma label. In 1997 her first album, ìPowder Blueî was released, and in 1999 her second album, ìAffirmationî was released, followed in 2000 by the album "Natural Woman." Her album "Shadows of Spring" (recorded in Argentina) was released by MDR Records in 2005. "Tomoko Ohno in Buenos Aires" was also released by MDR Records in 2007. The duet album with legendary Argentine guitarist Ricardo Lew " From Tokio to Buenos Aires " was released in 2011 spring. The duo added the cellist Nestor Tedesco from Teatro Colon and released Tango/Jazz album " Tres Sabores " in 2016. Miss Ohno and bassist Jay Leonhart released their duo album " Don't You Wish !" in 2018 and planning a California tour in 2018 summer. She also performed for Brazilian drummer Samuel Martinelle's debut album " Crossing Paths" with Claudio Roditi and Marcus McLaurine and it is scheduled to be released in spring 2018.

Miss Ohno is also active as a composer, and has been the recipient of a grant from The Meet The Composer Foundation. Commissioned works include pieces written for the Englewinds Chamber Ensemble.

View Tomoko's Website

Tomoko Ohno

Piano

Kellin Hanas, Trumpet

Hailed in the International Trumpet Guild Journal as “one of the best up and coming jazz musicians on the globe”, 24 year old Kellin Hanas is a trumpeter, composer, and educator based out of New York City and Chicago. A recent graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, she has studied under legendary trumpeters such as Ingrid Jensen and Scott Wendholt. Kellin can currently be seen on tour with her own band, as well as The DIVA Jazz Orchestra, The Carnegie Hall Ensemble, the Grace Fox Big Band, and actor and fashion legend Isaac Mizrahi.

Kellin is also thrilled to be holding the trumpet chair for Heathers The Musical in NYC at New World Stages, and occasionally you can see her at Broadway’s Just In Time as well. She is the recipient of the 2024 Laurie Frink Career Grant, and was also the 1st place winner of the 2024 ITG Ryan Anthony Memorial Jazz Improvisation Competition. In 2026, Kellin joined the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra as a section player and featured soloist for their “Sketches of Miles: Miles Davis at 100” concert series at Rose Theater in NYC.

Since 2022, Hanas has been the leader of her own band, the Kellin Hanas Quintet, which debuted in the upstairs of the iconic Birdland Jazz Club. Since then, she has taken her band to many venues and festivals, as well as colleges and universities around the US. An accomplished composer and arranger, her music has been performed across the country. She has also performed with celebrities such as Darren Criss, Titus Burgess, the Manhattan Transfer, and Michael Feinstein. As a side-woman, Hanas has shared the stage with many jazz legends, such as Sean Jones, Christian McBride, Melissa Aldana, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Chad LB, Ted Nash and Arturo Sandoval. Kellin was also a musician in the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Jonathan Groff and the Just In Time Band.

As an educator, Hanas has been invited to several colleges, universities and festivals to perform and teach. Some past visits include Ohio State University, Louisiana State University, Kennesaw State University and University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire, as well as regional Essentially Ellington festivals. As of 2026, Hanas has released 5 books and 2 video courses with Jazz Lesson Videos, and continues to create educational content with them.

As of 2026, Hanas has amassed a following of over 300k fans online, from her musical and comedic content. She hopes to use her platform to inspire, connect with others, and spread laughter and joy.

Visit Kellin's Website

Kellin Hanas

Trumpet

Laura Dreyer, Tenor Sax & Clarinet

Saxophonist, flutist, and composer Laura Dreyer is a vibrant, creative voice in the New York jazz scene. Her catchy original compositions combine lyrical melodies with jazz, Brazilian rhythms, funk, and rock, resulting in an exciting, contemporary palette of sound with a strong rhythmic twist. A multi-instrumentalist, Dreyer performs both nationally and internationally with her Brazilian Jazz ensemble, “Laura Dreyer and the Manhattan/Rio Connection,” and is additionally in great demand as a sideperson. Audiences have heard her in the bands of such diverse artists as such as pianist Dom Salvador, Antonio Adolfo, Paula Morelenbaum, Dr. Billy Taylor, Walter Bishop Jr., Mel Lewis, Robert Palmer, Nnenna Freelon, Lea Delaria,  Leny Andrade, Portinho, Helcio Milito, saxophonist/author James McBride, Sherrie Maricle and the Diva Jazz Orchestra and, Mark Levine, as well as many others. Laura has recorded four albums as a leader/producer, including Mysterious Encounter (Lavasphere), Free Flying Bird (Sony/Piloo), and Sax in the City (Apria), and Vida. Arte. Amor. (Mayimba Jazz). She is also featured on acclaimed Brazilian pianist Dom Salvador’s newest release, The Art of Samba Jazz, which received a Premio da Musica Brasileira award for Best Instrumental CD. Dreyer has a Bachelor of Arts degree from SUNY Empire State College, where she received a SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence, and was also a scholarship student at the acclaimed Berklee College of Music. Dreyer studied with noted music educators Andy McGee, Joe Viola, and John LaPorta. In addition, she took private lessons with saxophone greats Joe Henderson, Joe Lovano, and Hal Stein, composers Lyle Mays and Jim McNeely.

View Laura's Website

Laura Dreyer

Tenor Sax & Clarinet
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