Published: January 24, 2007 08:38 am            

DIVA Jazz Orchestra will headline Marshall University Jazz Festival

Huntington — Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, a band steeped in the history of jazz but infused with the progressive harmonies of today, will be featured in 38th annual Jazz Festival Feb. 1 through 3 at Marshall University.

Festival events, sponsored by MU’s department of music, will take place in the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center. Tickets may be purchased at the center’s box office, or by calling (304) 696-2787.

Dr. Ed Bingham, director of jazz studies at Marshall, said the Jazz Festival has been an important part of West Virginia’s artistic community since its beginning in 1970.

“It attracts nationally recognized artists and supports the MU Jazz Studies Program in its efforts to educate students, to entertain the public and to preserve the rich heritage of jazz,” Bingham said.

Artists who have performed at Marshall and with the MU Jazz Ensemble comprise a veritable “Who’s Who” among important jazz musicians, Bingham said. Included among them are Joe Farrell, Phil Wilson, Clark Terry, Gary Burton, Rich Matteson, Art Pepper, Jamey Aebersold, Maynard Ferguson and Orchestra, Stan Kenton and Orchestra, Woody Herman and the Thundering Herd, Herbie Mann, Gary Burton, Ed Soph, Dominic Spera, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra with Buddy Morrow, the Count Basie Orchestra, Bob Thompson, Mike Vax, Chris Vadala, Bill Watrous, Eddie Daniels, Oliver Nelson, Dave Valentin, Alvin Batiste, Terry Gibbs, Denis DeBlasio, Conrad Herwig, James Dapogny, Louis Bellson, Arturo Sandoval, The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Paquite D’Rivera and the Dizzy Gillespie All Stars.

Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra are based in New York City and play contemporary, mainstream big band jazz composed and arranged by band members and other renowned writers including Tommy Newsom, Ellen Rowe, Rich Shemaria, and Scott Whitfield.

DIVA’s special sound is a result of its repertoire composed expressly for the individual personalities of the musicians. Audiences can expect to hear a powerful ensemble and creative soloists playing with all the spontaneity, originality and finesse of the jazz masters who have preceded them, Bingham said.

DIVA has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious music venues, where they have received critical acclaim. Some of those venues are: Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops Orchestra at a sold-out concert; John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.; Verizon Jazz Festival at Lincoln Center in New York; Lionel Hampton Jazz Room at Le Meridien Hotel in Paris; Teatro de Sistina in Rome, Italy; Hollywood Bowl; Blue Note in New York; Harrah’s in Lake Tahoe; Berlin, Germany, Jazz Festival; and Bern, Switzerland, Jazz Festival

Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, Diane Schuur, DeeDee Bridgewater, Rosemary Clooney, Jack Jones, Clark Terry, Dr. Billy Taylor, Terry Gibbs, Tommy Newsom, and Randy Brecker have performed with DIVA in the United States and abroad.

Additional contributions to the Jazz Festival include performances by Bluetrane, Marshall’s faculty jazz combo; Zanter +; the MU Jazz Ensemble with guest artist Sherrie Maricle; Bridgeport High School, and the Thundering Herd All-Stars.

A recent addition to Marshall’s jazz program will make an appearance during this festival. Dr. Sean Parsons, the newly appointed professor of jazz piano, will be performing each night. Parsons will direct the Thundering Herd All-Stars and perform with Bluetrane and Zanter +.



Schedule

Thursday, Feb. 1

7 p.m., admission $10 adults, $5 students

Bridgeport High School Jazz Ensemble; Bluetrane – MU Jazz Faculty



Friday, Feb. 2

10 a.m. – John Adams Middle School (Charleston, W.Va.)

11 a.m. – Blennerhassett Junior High (Parkersburg, W.Va.)

1 p.m. – Sherman High School (Seth, W.Va.)

2 p.m. – Bridgeport High School (Bridgeport, W.Va.)

3 p.m. – Northwood High School (Pittsboro, N.C.)

4 p.m. – Gallia Academy (Gallipolis, Ohio)

7 p.m., admission $10 adults, $5 students

Zanter +

8 p.m. – MU Jazz Ensemble with Sherry Maricle



Saturday, Feb. 3

7 p.m., admission $20 adult, $10 student

Thundering Herd All Stars

Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra

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For more information, contact Bingham at (304) 696-3147.

        

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