MARIA SCHNEIDER BIG BAND

BIRDLAND / MAY 27-31

Maria Schneider is a trailblazing composer, arranger, and bandleader. Maria studied orchestration with classical composer Dominick Argento. She received an NEA grant to study composition with the late NEA Jazz Master Bob Brookmeyer, who said in a 1999 interview that she was close to being fully formed by the time of her first recording. Maria credits him with thinking in terms of music rather than jazz history to help find her voice. Her seven GRAMMY Awards are ample proof that her deep, colorful, and emotional works have won her a widespread audience. Honored as an NEA Jazz Master in 2019, Maria leads an 18-piece band including Steve Wilson, Dave Pietro, Rich Perry, Scott Robinson, Greg Gisbert, Mike Rodriguez, Ryan Keberle, Gary Versace, Marshall Gilkes, Jay Anderson and others.—KD