Dec 10, 2020
When your band’s motto is “Fiercely swinging on purpose, with purpose,” you’ve probably got something special to share with the jazz world. That’s definitely the case with the 3D Jazz Trio, who has released perhaps the finest album of new Christmas jazz this year, Christmas in 3D.
Formerly known as 3Divas, based on their common membership in the famous DIVA Jazz Orchestra, the trio gives us their take on all things Christmas here – religious and secular, old and new, as well as the delightfully offbeat. The common denominator? All their versions of these classic tunes swing like mad and exude a great sense of holiday spirit and cheer. Put it under your favorite jazz lover's tree.
3D Jazz Trio are: Jackie Warren (piano), Amy Shook (bass & fiddle), and Sherrie Maricle (drums). They met in May of 2014 at the Cleveland Playhouse while playing in the DIVA Jazz Orchestra as part of Maurice Hines’ award-winning show Tappin’ Thru Life. From their first shared downbeat, they became kindred swinging spirits. They keep a busy touring schedule - rudely interrupted this year - and have released two albums in 2020, I Love To See You Smile in January, and now Christmas in 3D.
I had the pleasure of having all three members of the group on the line for our conversation, and they swapped stories and anecdotes about the making of Christmas in 3D, how they arrange tunes that are so well known to the public, and how they chose to record, among all possible tunes, "Please, Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)," a song recorded by John Denver and Alan Jackson. Musical selections from Christmas in 3D both feature Amy Shook, as she takes the melody on bass for “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” and provides the fiddle on "Please, Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)." From their I Love To See You Smile album comes “L.O.V.E.,” dedicated to Maurice Hines.