3D Jazz Trio Christmas in 3D

3D Jazz Trio
Christmas in 3D
DIVA Jazz

Only a few months ago, this writer reviewed the 3D Jazz Trio's "I Love To See You Smile," a recording that certainly left listeners smiling. Now the trio of pianist Jackie Warren, bassist and fiddler Amy Shook, and drummer Sherrie Maricle return with a swinging dose of holiday cheer.

The strength of these recordings of songs that are mostly familiar are the arrangements and the vitality of the trio's playing. "Winter Wonderland" is a sparkling performance with Warren's improvisation going far beyond simple melodic embellishments. It is followed by a fabulous calypso treatment of "Up On The Housetop," with an irresistible rhythmic pulse. This track and the Afro-Cuban arrangement of "O Christmas Tree" showcase Maricle's infectious groove making. Amy Shook's fiddle at the beginning of "Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)" opens the piece as a country hoedown stomp before the performance segues into a rollicking shuffle.

"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" begins as a duet between Shook and Maricle before Warren enters with a solo hinting at the familiar melody. Warren also dazzles on a sprite interpretation of "Greensleeves." The trio's love of Latin grooves is reflected In the Brazilian-spirited treatment of the folk hymn "I Wonder As I Wander," while the trio provides a spirited rendition of "White Christmas." "Silent Night" opens with Warren's gospel-inspired piano before Shook and Maricle add a restrained backing. Shook adds a bowed solo set against Warren's chords and Maricle's deft use of brushes.

A delightful swinging treatment of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" closes this album. The joyful "Christmas in 3D" is not merely a terrific holiday album, but also an outstanding piano trio recording.

I received a copy to review from a publicist.

3D Jazz Trio I Love To See You Smile

3D Jazz Trio
I Love To See You Smile
DIVA Jazz

The 3D Jazz Trio is an offshoot of the Diva Jazz Orchestra, which is led by drummer Sherrie Maricle. Also, it includes Orchestra members, Jackie Warren on piano, and Amy Shook on bass. Back in late 2017, I reviewed an album by the three as by 3 Divas. All three have impressive resumes as players, composers, and educators, and I found this earlier recording to be "a marvelous recording by a superb trio.'

The same strengths they exhibited on the prior recording are here. The three are marvelous instrumentalists who have developed telepathic chemistry. They have selected some excellent songs to interpret, starting with the title track (from the film "Parenthood"), with its easy groove. Shook's bass is an anchor on this while Maricle swings, and Warren's displays her adept fluid, lyrical piano. Warren's playing on the oft-recorded "Besame Mucho" displays her sense of dynamics and ability to caress a melody as she does in her solo intro. After the intro, the trio's performance segues into a tropical groove. The trio's affinity for Latin Jazz is also showcased on a buoyant "Recado Bossa Nova."

Evoking Junior Mance, the three play a rollicking rendition of Jimmy Smith's "Back to the Chicken Shack," with Maricle adding some rhythmic explosions. "Angel Eyes" places the spotlight on Shook with her bass intro and also her Arco playing over Warren's softly played riff and Maricle's brushes. They close with "L.O.V.E," which is a tribute to Maurice Hines, Jr., who brought the trio together. It was featured in Hines' musical "Tappin' Through Life," and the trio's rendition ends another superlative album on an exhilarating note.

I received a download to review from a publicist. Here is a video of the 3D Jazz Trio performing "Back at the Chicken Shack."

3Divas

3Divas
3Divas
self-produced

3Divas is an offshoot of the Diva Jazz Orchestra which is led by drummer Sherrie Muncie and also includes Orchestra members, Jackie Warren on piano, and Any Shook on bass. As a resident of the Mid-Atlantic, I am most familiar with bassist Shook, who is quite busy in addition to being part of this trio, but all three have impressive resumes as players, composers and educators.

The trio certainly has its very distinctive approach to the ballad "Beautiful Love," which quickly establishes the complete authority they have as they transform this. Warren certainly displays technique, touch, drive and imaginative invention while complemented by the other two. They then turn there attention to John Denver's "Sunshine on My Shoulders" that opens as an exuberant romp before Shook's bowed solo engenders a sober mood to close this performance. A lyrical "Tennessee Waltz" follows and then a jaunty "I Thought About You." Jobim's "Favela" opens wistfully before they launch a spicy latin groove and Warren dazzles here with Shook an anchor and Muncie crisp stick work and use of her cymbals accenting the torrid piano with Shook also soloing strongly and Muncie also generating fireworks. Warren opens "In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning" in a reflective manner before Shook takes a thoughtful bass solo with Muncie's deftly employing brushes and Warren spare runs and chord.

A fresh, dynamic take on the old Sonny and Cher hit "The Beat Goes On," based on Alan Baylock's arrangement of Sonny Bono's number, closes a marvelous recording by a superb trio.

I received as a download from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the September-October Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 374). Here are the 3Divas performing "The Beat Goes On."

Leigh Pilzer Strunkin’

Leigh Pilzer
Strunkin’
Self-Produced

One of the mainstays of the very fertile Washington D.C. jazz scene, this is the first album for baritone saxophonist, composer and arranger Leigh Pilzer. A member of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and The DIVA Jazz Orchestra as well as one who frequently can be heard with other area ensembles. On this album, recorded live at the 6th Annual Washington Women in Jazz Festival, she leads a terrific ensemble that also includes Jen Krupa, trombone; Sherrie Maricle, drums; Amy Shook, bass; and Jackie Warren, piano. She composed six of the eight compositions with Amy Shook contributing "Brag Time," and Jen Krupa contributing “Duel at Dawn."

The title track is a jaunty number that to me suggests a classic Prestige Records date with Pilzer's vigorous, heavy tone suggesting the likes of Pepper Adams, Nick Brignola, and Cecil Payne, while Krupa's trombone complements Pilzer and displays her own strong playing, with Warren also spotlighted. This is a superb rhythm section. There is a nice romantic tinge to "Blue Moo," with Krupa taking the lead as Pilzer weaves around her on the head on this wonderfully paced number that also showcases Amy Shook's firm, driving bass. A Harry Carney-Duke Ellington flavor is heard on a lovely ballad "Miss Ally In Allyworld," while Shook opens "Brag Time" with a finger popping groove on this hard swinging number that has  marvelous growling trombone in a Tricky Sam Nanton manner, along with Warren's rollicking piano. Pilzer seems to relish focusing on the low end of the baritone's register, yet swings in an effortless sounding manner as on "Thaddish," as well as her bossa nova "It's Anyone But You," with its exchanges between her and Krupa and also provides solo space for all including Marcie. There is a playful opening of bop-laced "Duel at Dawn," with Maricle's drums adding considerable heat with echoes of Tadd Dameron on the close.

What a wonderful recording. These are all musicians playing with passion, intelligence and imagination and with the excellent rhythm section and the marvelous solos, one has a superb recording that has one wanting more.

I received as a download from a publicist. Here is Leigh Pilzer's recent performance at Phillips Collection as part of the 2017 DC Jazz Festival.