Definitely Diva is as much fun as their name. The trio is all about chocolates and wine - it's the attitude that counts, according to Lynne Dickson, diva extraordinaire.
"We have a kinship," she said of her musical compatriots, Wendy Hibberd and Patrice Pollack. They've known each other, musically speaking, for four years and worked together for two.
"We got together for just three songs at a Music Makers concert one time," said Dickson. "The audience went wild. We've never left each other's side since." The Divas take to the stage at Rockwood in Sechelt on Saturday, July 5, in a show with their band, Summer Sizzle. They hope to fill the giant pavilion.
Lots of people their age don't get to do what they want, the women explain: dress up, go on stage, tell jokes, sing whatever they wish. What is that age? We approach the topic carefully.
"We're mothers," says one of the divas. "Well, actually, two of us are grandmothers." Between the three of them they have 13 little divas, all daughters and granddaughters and all of whom like to sing. But this is no glee club for grannies. The three dress attractively, rehearse professionally and do it for the love of performing. It's not for the money, they all agree. "We're actually devoted to our families," said Hibberd, trying to describe what divadom means to them. "But this is our thing, our outlet. It's the freedom of choosing songs, creating the harmonies that feel good, that sound good."
"Yeah," agrees Pollack, who loves to harmonize. "Our voices match." Dickson and Hibberd met at a jazz workshop and thought they might want to work together. "I was in a musical funk at the time," recalls Pollack. The quartet that she sang with, After Hours, had broken up and she wanted to belong to a new one. In addition to vocalist, Pollack describes herself as a percussionist in training.
"Oh no," Dickson chides her. "You're a good percussionist. We're all in training, all of our lives."
Hibberd is an elementary school teacher who comes from a musical family. She's been singing since she was a little girl, in musical theatre and at University of Victoria. When she arrived on the Coast, she was influenced by Janice Brunson, who leads the A Capella Strait choir. "Because of Janice, I could read music and understand it," she said. She also gives credit to musical coach Nikki Weber, who taught her so much while she was in the Mellow Tones.
Pollack, a former community school and parent-tot program co-ordinator, also gives credit to Weber.
"The thing about music, all the people you work with can influence your direction," Pollack said.
That includes local musical mentors and also the famous.
"I grew up on Glen Miller and was introduced to the Beatles," she said.
Dickson, who enjoys female jazz vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald, tells how choice of songs depends on the mood. "One song, KT Tunstall's Black Horse and a Cherry Tree, was suggested by my granddaughter," Dickson said.
Lynne and her husband Reg are well known as teachers of their own Music Makers program and as singers at many community events. "I've been operating the studio since 1994," Dickson says, "but as far as my stage performance, I was mostly back-up singer to Reg. Now, I'm the one in front." Hibberd chimes in: "Lynne provided the opportunity for others to shine. It's her turn now," she said.
Definitely Diva will perform in a show of variety, surprises and humour. The band includes Warren Allan on bass guitar, Ken Dalgleish on piano, Barry Taylor on drums, Trish Windsor on percussion and Reg Dickson on his new electric guitar. Tickets for $20 are available at the Sechelt Visitor Info Centre and Hallmark Cards in Gibsons. See www.music-makers.ca for more.
