Jackie Warren, Amy Shook and Sherrie Maricle met in the spring of 2014 while performing in Maurice Hines’ show “Tappin’ Thru Life” as a part of the DIVA Jazz orchestra. The three are now known by the name 3Divas Jazz Trio.
The trio performed Oct. 2 in IU's Auer Hall, marking the 12th day of the trio's current tour. They have also performed at an array of venues from across the country including many other universities such as Binghamton University.
The group also attended the Jazz Education Network annual conference this year and played in the opening performance. The members hope to educate young musicians through their work.
“Especially in an iconic school like IU where the music program is so renowned around the country, if not the world, we want to share our knowledge and information with (students)," drummer Maricle said. "Please ask us questions."
Two years after its introduction in fall 2016, the group released its seven-track, premier self-titled album.
The 3Divas performed four of the seven songs featured on the album during the Oct. 2 concert. Originally, the songs were recorded live during a late-night session to be broadcast for radio and to capture the improvisational nature of the music. Pianist Warren highlighted the different qualities that can be seen in jazz.
“You put the emotions of the moment into it,” Warren said. “Not that you can’t do that in classical, but it’s a little more restrictive.
The group shared how it spend much of its time together during trips, but also during breaks.
“We’ve basically been living together this whole time, and we still love each other,” bassist Shook said. “We’re best friends both on and off the bandstand.”
As an all-female group, the three also explained that they did not always grow up having other women as role models, but that this did not alter their musical identities.
“We never think about our gender when we play,” Maricle said. “No more than a male would anyway.”
The trio performed eight songs by the end of the night. The choices were all announced from the stage before they began. Each musician had her own microphone to accommodate the various solos and on-stage conversations.
“I love the fact that there’s not just one leader,” Shook said. “We’re all leaders of this trio.”
