DIVA - Key Persons
Alexa Tarantino is an award-winning, vibrant, young jazz saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, and educator.
Born and raised in Southern California, Jade moved to New York in 2020 to pursue her Master's degree in Music Therapy at New York University, Steinhardt while immersing herself in the jazz scene of New York City. Since living in New York she has played with multiple groups around Manhattan and Brooklyn, including the Diva Jazz Orchestra, Sammy Miller and The Congregation, Bobby Sanabria's Multiverse Big Band, and The Grace Fox Big Band.
Before moving to New York, Jade got her Bachelor's degree in Ethnomusicology from UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music, primarily playing and teaching around the greater Los Angeles area. In California, she has performed with artists like David Garfield, Kenny Burrell, Tito Puente Jr. and Johnny Polanco's Latin Jazz Orchestra, Emil Richards, Matt Harris, and even travelled with Quincy Jones and his production team to Montreux, Switzerland in 2018 to perform for his 85th birthday celebration which featured artists such as Monty Alexander, Jorja Smith, Robert Glasper, and Jacob Collier to name a few.
Jade is dedicated to jazz education and teaches part-time at The Calhoun School while offering private lessons to students and adults of all ages, and is committed to utilizing her music therapy training to serve disenfranchised communities and minority groups. Currently, she sees clients at the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy, an internationally known private clinic at NYU, where she works with children and adults with special needs.
California native Jennifer Krupa is an active trombonist and composer in Washington, D.C. A member of the United States Navy Band Commodores jazz ensemble, Jen also performs regularly with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra; Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra; and her own group, JLQ, with saxophonist Leigh Pilzer.
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.
Saxophonist/arranger Leigh Pilzer is a member of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, The DIVA Jazz Orchestra, and the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra. She has toured nationally and internationally with both SJMO and DIVA.
"Pilzer's baritone saxophone is warm and buzzing with the jazz language." - All About Jazz
Leigh also leads her own small groups, with which she has performed at many of Washington, DC's top jazz venues including Blues Alley, Twins Jazz, Jazz Night in DC at Westminster Presbyterian, the Atlas Performing Arts Center, Jazz at the Garden, The Mansion at Strathmore, and the Takoma Park JazzFest, among others. Her debut quintet recording, "Strunkin',: was released in 2016 to great critical acclaim.
Leigh's work has been performed by college and professional jazz ensembles throughout the country. DIVA has recorded a number of her arrangements; her original composition "East Coast Andy" is the opening track on The DIVA Jazz Orchestra 25th Anniversary Project. Other arranging credits include horn section writing for recordings by Chuck Brown and Eva Cassidy and orchestrations for the critically acclaimed show Maurice Hines Tappin' Thru Life.
Leigh earned her doctorate from George Mason University. She also holds two master's degrees from University of Maryland, and a bachelor's from Berklee College of Music. She is a member of the Jazz Studies Department at University of Maryland, where she teaches Jazz Theory and Jazz Arranging. She has served on faculty of Towson University teaching Jazz History, and at George Mason University teaching Fundamentals of Rock, Blues, and Jazz, an online course she was asked to develop.
Leslie Havens has been with DIVA since 1997. A member of the Artie Shaw Orchestra for ten years, she is on the band's one and only CD and has performed with them in most of the United States, several times on the Mississippi Queen and the S.S. Norway, and in Taiwan and Brazil.
She has performed in Carnegie Hall with Arturo Sandoval, with Aretha Franklin at the Newport Jazz Festival, and for the grand opening of the Hanover Theater with Bernadette Peters and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. She has toured Europe (including Russia and Serbia) and South America with Paul Anka and performs regularly with the Boston Brass Ensemble, Quintessential Brass and several orchestras and local big bands.
An active music educator, Leslie has been an adjudicator for the Massachusetts Jazz Educators Central District Jazz Festival and teaches private brass lessons at Marlborough, Boylston, Harvard and Sudbury Public Schools. Leslie is also an active freelance tuba player.
Liesl Whitaker is a charter member of DIVA. A world-class lead trumpet player, she can be heard on 6 of DIVA's 9 CDs: Something's Coming (1995), Leave It to DIVA (1997), I Believe in You (1999), Live in Concert (2002), TNT: A Tommy Newsom Tribute (2005), and A Swingin' Life (2014).
Originally from Chicago, Liesl attended Appalachian State University and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she studied trumpet with Bill Adam, Pat Harbison and Joe Phelps. In addition to DIVA, she has performed and/or recorded with the Ed Palermo Big Band, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, the WDR Big Band of Cologne, Germany, the Madison Square Garden production of The Wizard of Oz, and pit orchestras for many musicals including Cats, Cabaret, Victor Victoria, Guys and Dolls, Little Me, and Big.
Liesl joined the Army Blues of The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" in 2000, becoming the first woman to win a lead position in a premier U.S. military jazz ensemble. She repeated this feat with the Jazz Ambassadors of The U.S. Army Field Band in 2012. She resides in Maryland with her son and daughter.
Mercedes Beckman is a jazz alto saxophonist whose uniquely personal voice has been formed by studying the greats of the jazz tradition, and continues to evolve.
"Breathtaking ... she takes an Eric Dolphy approach to her solo, which adds to the excitement and depth of the performance."- All About Jazz
Mercedes is the newest member of the Jazz Ambassadors, the premiere, touring Army big band as well as the DIVA Jazz Orchestra and is a bandleader of a quintet/sextet with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz for Young People program. She has recently toured a lot with DIVA and with other JFYP bands.
A synesthetic who developed perfect pitch at age 19, Mercedes was mentored by jazz master Bunky Green at the University of North Florida and then went on to complete her master's degree at the Manhattan School of Music where she studied with the great artists John Riley, Donny McCaslin, Rich Perry, Phil Markowitz, and the late Joe Temperley. Mercedes recently completed a tour throughout Mexico with the Marcus Printup Quintet as well as a tour in Canada with local musicians. Mercedes is also very active as an educator; she substitutes for the jazz and classical faculty at Manhattan School of Music Pre-college program, maintains a private studio, and gives guest masterclasses. She is currently working on launching her Women through the Ages project, which translates personal stories into musical events that examine social inequality throughout history and draws parallels between yesteryear and current events.
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.
Sara can be heard performing as a member of several well respected NYC institutions including The Birdland Big Band, The Diva Jazz Orchestra, Dave Chamberlain's Band of Bones, David Berger and the Sultans of Swing, as well as countless composers orchestras.
She is a sought after session musician, credits including among others, The Macy's 4th of July Firework Show and the The Met Gala. Sara's playing can be heard as a member of the Grammy Winning Jazz fusion ensemble Snarky Puppy on albums including: "Bring Us the Bright," "The Only Constant," "The World is Getting Smaller" and "Real to Reel."
Her writing and playing is often featured by the Birdland Big Band, The Diva Jazz Orchestra, and can be heard on numerous albums by the University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band including: "Lab 2008," "Lab 2007," "Lab 2006" and "Live at Blues Alley, and by the award winning UTubes Jazz ensemble. She is sought after for commissioned works of music in various styles and ensemble configurations. Sara was a featured artist and commissioned composer at the International Women in Brass Conference in Toronto, Canada. Sara earned both a BMus and MMus degree from UNT while studying composition with Neil Slater and Paris Rutherford and trombone with Steve Wiest and Tony Baker.
In addition to performing and composing, Sara enjoys digging in her garden and collecting day lilies.
Job Titles:
- LEADER
- Drummer & Leader
- Leader & Drummer
From the drum set Sherrie leads The DIVA Jazz Orchestra, her quintet FIVE PLAY and co-leads the 3D Jazz Trio. She is also a busy freelance performer, a published composer/arranger and a dedicated educator, clinician, guest conductor and soloist.
With her bands Sherrie has performed at many of the world's most acclaimed music venues and festivals, from Lincoln Center to the Kennedy Center and the Hollywood Bowl, to Jazz Festivals in Germany, Switzerland, France, Portugal, Ireland, England, Croatia, Japan, Vietnam, and Israel and beyond. Additionally, Sherrie and DIVA were featured at the 2017 NEA Jazz Master's Awards Ceremony, the soundtrack for the NBC-Macy's Fireworks Spectacular; on CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood, on TCM's televised broadcast of the 25th Anniversary of the Kennedy Center and NHK Japan's New York Jazz. The band also co-stars in the award-winning documentary film The Girls in the Band.
Sherrie has received several awards and honors which include the 2022 Ronald McDonald House - New York's Music for Hope award; 2016 Audelco Award for "Best Musical" - Tappin' Thru Life; 2014 Ovation award for "Best Music Direction" in Tappin Thru 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."
As an educator, Sherrie runs a private drum set and percussion studio. She is also a clinician for Yamaha Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Aquarian Drumheads and Vic Firth Drumsticks. From coast-to-coast she also serves as a guest conductor, soloist, and adjudicator for collegiate and high school jazz festivals. 15 years ago, Sherrie created, and remains the Music Director for Musical Magic, a hospital outreach program for The Ronald McDonald House - New York. She is currently on the faculty of The University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Sherrie graduated from Union-Endicott High School in Endicott, N.Y. in 1981. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Binghamton University in 1985, then moved to New York City to attend New York University, where she completed a Master of Arts in Jazz Performance in 1986 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Jazz Performance/Composition in 2000.
Sherrie's recent recordings include The DIVA Jazz Orchestra Swings Broadway (2022), The 3D Jazz Trio 9 to 5 (2022) and FIVE PLAY "LIVE" at The Firehouse Stage (2019)
Sherrie loves to swing!
From the drum set Sherrie leads The DIVA Jazz Orchestra, her quintet FIVE PLAY, The DIVA Jazz Trio and co-leads the 3Divas.
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.