The Diamond Jubilators
Dr. Diamond is founder, leader, and drummer of The Diamond Jubilators, a highly acclaimed international jazz band specializing in music from the 1910s-1930s. Since their formation in 1993, they have given hundreds of performances in America, England, Wales, Scotland, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Australia in venues ranging from concert halls and clubs, to nursing homes, hospitals, prisons and schools.
All the members of the band, as well as being outstanding musicians, have been personally trained by Dr. Diamond in how to use music therapeutically. So, while the Jubilators concerts are musically exceptional, they are, more importantly, specifically designed to maximize the therapeutic benefits of music. This gives a unique impact to their performances. And, because of their approach, the Jubilators are particularly expert in performing for audiences who are in special categories such as residents of nursing homes, hospitals and prisons, along with children and adults with special needs.
A Jubilators concert is not like a regular concert! Their repertoire is a wonderful blend of hot Dixieland jazz, ballads, and novelty numbers. The approach is informal and interactive: wherever appropriate, they encourage their audiences to join in by dancing and singing along.
As well as Dr. Diamond himself, their personnel includes:
Susan Diamond, M.M., Dip.I.M.H. (vocals)
Susan Diamond is an internationally recognized vocalist specializing in classical, pop and jazz. She studied at the Juilliard School of Music, New York, and has sung major roles for opera companies and symphonies throughout the world, including Welsh National Opera, New York City Opera, Scottish Opera, Cologne Opera, Cleveland Opera, the Denver Symphony (USA), Frankfurt Radio Orchestra (Germany), Fulham Orchestra (UK), Danish Radio Orchestra (tour through USA), Halle Orchestra (Germany), Swedish Radio Orchestra (Sweden), Sjellands Orchestra (Denmark) and Bergen Symphony (Norway). She is equally at home in jazz and has performed hundreds of jazz concerts in the United Kingdom, USA, Germany and Australia, where she is noted especially for her mastery of ballads and scat-singing. Ms. Diamond is a Professor of Voice at Fairfield University in Connecticut.
Ivan Hunter Dip.I.M.H. (trumpet/cornet)
Ivan Hunter is past world champion cornet player. He has, during his 35 year career been principal trumpet in symphony orchestras and stage shows, played on over 2,000 recordings, and has given numerous solo and ensemble performances in both classical and jazz styles. Mr Hunter was considered Australia’s leading brass specialist before moving to the USA where he was granted permanent residence in 2003. He is also an active band, orchestra, and choral conductor and the co-inventor and manufacturer of the highly acclaimed Hunter-Diamond Trumpet, the first trumpet in the world to be designed for its therapeutic qualities. He is also a charter member of the American Music Therapy Association.
Peter Muir Ph.D. Dip.I.M.H. (piano)
Peter Muir is an internationally recognized pianist specializing in early jazz, ragtime, blues, and boogie-woogie, giving solo concerts and making appearances at numerous festivals in the US as well as Europe, Britain, Asia and Australia. The New York Times has described his playing as “extremely potent.” He is a world authority on blues, and is currently working on a book on the subject to be published by Illinois University Press in 2007. He has also worked extensively as a composer, conductor and musical director in theatre (including off-Broadway and London’s West End) and ballet (including the Royal Ballet and Ballet Rambert). As a teacher, he is the inventor of a unique approach to learning piano, the Sing-Play Method.
Susan Diamond sings “It Had to Be You”