The D in 3D stands for Diva, the 15-piece all-female orchestra led by drummer Sherrie Maricle, who is also active in 3D and Five Play. The other two members of the trio, pianist Jackie Warren and bassist Amy Shook are not technically members of Diva, whose pianist and bassist are Tamoko Ohno and Noriko Ueda respectively.
On this album the trio moves steadily through 10 numbers, four of which have the word Christmas in the title, two of which are carols and thus, by definition “Christmassy”. One, Winter Wonderland, is firmly associated with Noël, leaving Greensleeves, Up On The Housetop and I Wonder As I Wander in isolation.
The one negative here – for me at least – is the furious pace throughout; even White Christmas is in double time and both Silent Night and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas are swung within an inch of your life.
There is not a scintilla of doubt that these are three musicians at the top of their game and in perfect sync with one another; if they had varied the tempi once in a while this would have been an even more enjoyable album.
Discography
Winter Wonderland; Up On The Housetop; Greensleeves; Christmas Tree; Please, Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas); God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen; I Wonder As I Wander; White Christmas; Silent Night; Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (44.08)
Sherrie Maricle (d); Jackie Warren (p); Amy Shook (b, vn). Red Rock Recording Studio, Saylersburg, PA. 10 January 10 and 14 August 2020.
Diva Jazz
