Customer Reviews

I Believe in You

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Wow! What a great band! This band swings with the best of them. I have waited a long time for a fresh breath of air to come along and breath life into today's big band sounds, and this is it! This CD has something for fans of all ages, with arrangements in the traditional style of the big bands of yesterday, as well as contemporary arrangements for the more progressive ear. John McNeil's arrangement on the title track ("I Believe in You") is quite extensive, with complicated lines existing simultaneously throughout the ensemble. The Michael Abene arrangement of "Happy Days are Here Again" is also impressive, with haunting flute and flugelhorn harmonies throughout. The great Tommy Newsom has penned the arrangement "Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald", which is recorded in honor of one of the greatest voices to ever walk the planet. There is not a lacking song on the CD. Every song is executed with outstanding musicianship and precision, a feat not easily accomplished with arrangements of this high difficulty level. Ms. Maricle has a fantastic ensemble in this group of talented women. I hope we continue to hear from them in the future. This is a "must own" for every fan of big band jazz.

...The drummer can barely keep time. There are some nice arrangements but I'd rather hear more competent musicians play them.

TWO OF THE THREE PREVIOUS REVIEWS WERE OVERTLY NEGATIVE. WHO KNOWS WHY.
PERHAPS EXAMPLES OF AMATEUR CRITICS TAKING OUT THEIR CHAUVINISM ON A
MUCH-BETTER-THAN-AVERAGE AGGREGATION OF EXCELLENT MUSICIANS (WHO JUST HAPPEN TO BE WOMEN), AND ON ARRANGEMENTS THAT NEED NO DEFENSE--SINCE THEY ARE CLEARLY A CUT ABOVE LOTS OF NYC AND LA BIG BAND CHARTS.

SOME GUYS, AND--SADLY--EVEN WOMEN, NEED TO BE DRAGGED INTO THE 21ST CENTURY OF MUSICAL PROGRESS (EVEN IF THEY ARE INSENSITIVE AND UNSKILLED
IN MATTERS OF MUSICAL FINESSE). I WANT TO THANK SHERRIE MARICLE AND
DIVA FOR DOING THEIR BIT OF THE DRAGGING. THEY SOUND LIKE FINE MUSICIANS
WHO HAVE BEEN SHORT-SHEETED BY A COUPLE OF IRRITATED BLAME-MERCHANTS
WHO WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE TALENT AND CREATIVITY IF IT SLAPPED THEM IN THE
FACE.

BUT, HEY! IT'S ALWAYS THE GUYS WHO CAN'T PLAY THAT GRIPE AND CUT AWAY.

This is pretty sad. The band isn't tight, doesn't swing, and the arrangements are mediocre college level. Even the solos don't go anywhere. This band's got possibilities, but a long way to go before it becomes top-notch.