Virtuoso drummer Sherrie Maricle leads The DIVA Jazz Orchestra, an ensemble of 15 versatile women musicians about whom it has been said, “If there were still big band cutting sessions, DIVA would swing a lot of the remaining big bands out of their place.”
The orchestra was founded in 1990 by Stanley Kay (a one-time manager and relief drummer for Buddy Rich) who was conducting an orchestra with Sherrie Maricle performing on drums. This gave him the idea for an all-woman orchestra. He said, “Music has no gender, if you can play, you can play.” Two years later, The DIVA Jazz Orchestra was born, a concert jazz band with deep roots in the tradition of bands like Buddy Rich, Woody Herman and Count Basie and with a focus on straight ahead swing music.
The Diva Jazz Orchestra
Bob Widner
Besides DIVA, Maricle leads a quintet FIVE PLAY, which was formed from the rhythm section and some key soloists from the big band. Maricle also co-leads the 3Divas Jazz Trio, a fairly new trio with Sherrie Maricle on drums, Amy Shook on bass and Jackie Warren on piano. ”It was love at first note,” says Maricle of her trio. Maricle has also performed with the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall for 30 years and is music director and drummer for Broadway star Maurice Hines. Maricle is a published composer/ arranger and has received countless awards and grants including a Mary Lou Williams – Women in Jazz Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center. I caught up with her by phone at her home near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Sherrie Manicle, leader of The DIVA Jazz Orchestra
Garth Woods
Where were you born and brought up?
Buffalo, New York. When I was five, my family moved to Endicott, NY, an amazing hub of music, smack in the middle of the state on the southern border.
Was either parent musical?
My mother loved music, especially country western and Irish folk music, but they weren't jazz oriented. Later, I rebelled against country and Irish folk music, but now I have a great reverence for that music.
How old were you when you picked up your first instrument?
I wanted to play the trumpet in fourth grade but the music teacher said girls do not play trumpet. He gave me a metal clarinet which I really hated so I switched to cello. In the sixth grade, the orchestra teacher needed an extra percussionist so I volunteered and never left.
Did you have lessons?
My mom bought me my first drum and had me take music lessons from the local music store. When I was 11, I saw Buddy Rich and his Killer Force Orchestra in Binghamton, New York and I freaked out. I still have goosebumps when I recall the moment. I ran home and said, "Mom, I have to play drums this way and I love jazz and I have to be in a big band." And it's all I've ever wanted to do since.
What happened after that?
I graduated high school then attended Binghamton University. It was a great place to live because all the touring big bands from Buddy Rich to Woody Herman and Count Basie with Frank Sinatra all played my hometown. I became colleagues with some of my professors and was often hired to play percussion for the big shows that came through town like Ringling Brothers Circus, Ice Capades, touring Broadway shows, etc. I also played drums in a lot of the local bands.
After undergraduate school, I received a scholarship to get my Master’s Degree at NYU and subsequently a doctoral fellowship that thankfully paid my rent for three years.
Did you go to jam sessions?
I went to the Blue Note every night. They had a jam after the last set which went till 4:00 AM. And I ran a jam session at the Village Gate for eight years until the Gate closed in 1993.
How did they feel when you first came in, about a female drummer?
At the Blue Note, one of the people running the session said to me, "All right honey, you can sit in if you take your top off," and "All right baby, can you handle this tempo?" I'm sure a lot of those antiquated attitudes or perceptions about women in music/women in jazz may have had more of an effect on my career than I realized. It's probably true for all women in any male-dominated career field. But I always chose to let that stuff just roll right off my back because most of it was too stupid to acknowledge and I was passion-driven; focused on what I loved and serious about developing my “voice” and finding the best way to contribute something good to the world.
Sherrie Manicle
Garth Woods
In the 80s, I was hired at the 6,000-seat Binghamton Arena to play for comedian Rodney Dangerfield. I walk in and right away the manager races over, "Oh no, you can't be on this gig, Rodney doesn't want to work with women and he doesn't think you can take his swearing and all that." It was just a whole bunch of nonsense. They refused to hire a woman. So, the Musicians Union in Binghamton boycotted Rodney Dangerfield's performance — to the union’s credit and in such a small town. But they didn't care, they just hired nonunion players. Rodney should have heard me swear!
Years later, I had a chance to work with Don Rickles; he was so funny and used my presence in his band as an opportunity to make hilarious jokes, beginning with: "How the hell did a broad get in the band?" I loved him.
Over time, there haven't been that many female musicians period, because of chauvinist males. Do you think there are more opportunities for women musicians now ?
No, specifically regarding jazz where there are less performance opportunities for everyone. However, in some cases our male counterparts are opening up their minds by listening with their ears instead of their eyes, which naturally leads to more women being hired for their excellence and artistic ability.
Many musicians, especially now, are creating their own opportunities; and with technology, cyber-space is the largest “venue” we have to present our artistic offerings. Next, we each have to find our audience and aim to bring joy into the world.
Noriko Ueda (bass), Jami Dauber (trumpet), Sherri Manicle (drums), Janelle Reichman (sax), and … [+]
Bill Westmoreland
When did you start composing and arranging and are you doing this for all three of the bands?
Yes, and for other groups of various musical genres; from symphonic pops to jazz orchestra, solo marimba, etc. I’m up to try anything.
I especially love composing/arranging for big band and my small groups. We don’t play 100% originals as I enjoy putting my stamp on jazz standards and music from other genres. For example, on my last trio CD, we recorded our version of The Beat Goes On by Sonny and Cher and Sunshine on My Shouldersby John Denver.
What has this pandemic done to your music?
Music isn't canceled, but there’s no way to readily perform with or for others; and that is one of music’s greatest joys. Jazz musicians are mourning the loss of that: the “live” connection to each other and the audience. Individual creative souls uniting to produce something uniquely beautiful and inspired, beyond themselves and sharing, exchanging energy with the audience; there is nothing like it. We can still create together via technology and we can still listen, but it’s not quite human.
Will you be releasing a new album anytime soon?
Yes. My new trio CD, I Love To See You Smile,will officially be released on May 22, but you can get your copy now on our website.
What are you doing now with Covid-19 prohibiting practice sessions, private lessons and concerts?
I’m putting new, free mini-lessons on my YouTube channel every Monday to keep a positive flow of musical energy; teaching online; sharing videos; streaming “live;” and seeking out ways to more ways share music and support each other.
If you could play with anyone living or dead, who would that be?
Ray Brown, the jazz bass player. And Woody Herman and his Thundering Herd. And I think it'd be pretty spectacular to play a tune with Tina Turner. She's just such a powerhouse. She just a goddess. I love her so much.
What haven't you done yet, that you want to do?
Performing at more of the world’s major jazz festivals and perhaps doing special recording with a major pop-country or rock star. A unique project crossing musical genres that would have a higher visibility than traditional jazz, like: Bonnie Raitt Swings Broadway, or Dolly & DIVA, Tina Swings the Blues, Willie Nelson & DIVA! It would be a dream to collaborate with any number of inspirational artists from multiple musical genres.
What does music mean to you?
When I'm playing music and connecting with my band mates, there ceases to be physical barrier between me – us and the music. A lot of people have heard the term, when you're in a flow state. It means everything disappears except what you're doing in the moment. Creating music from your heart and soul is transformative; it feels like you've transcended your physical being,have energetically melded with a force greater than yourself ,and your only purpose is to make something beautiful.
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