Maria Schneider is on a roll. Within the past couple of years the Minnesota native has received notice as one of the hottest composers and arrangers in the field of big band jazz.
Her first CD as leader of the 17-member Maria Schneider Big Band was titled "Evanescence" (enja 8048 2), a tribute to the late Gil Evans. Schneider told Downbeat in June 1992, "When I first heard Gil's music, I heard the passion of music. I realized this was the emotion I wanted to express in my own music."Her mentor for a dozen years has been venerable trombonist Bob Brookmeyer, with whom Maria studied after winning a National Endowment for the Arts grant in 1995. Brookmeyer guided her to some writing for the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra, and then to Evans. She was Evans' assistant until his death.
Following the release of the well-received "Evanescence," Schneider has produced "Coming About" (enja 90692), another rich, rollicking, tight but joyous collection of seven tracks.
For three years Schneider and her band have been playing weekly in Greenwich Village. But growing recognition of her two albums, plus trips to Berlin, China and Portugal in addition to scheduled 1997 dates in Holland, Denmark and France, are all indications this is a big band of the future. The present is pretty darn good, too.
- MY ATTRACTION to big bands occurred in 1956 when I was a freshman at the University of Wisconsin when I purchased Stan Kenton's "Cuban Fire." I was hooked and, even though Kenton received his share of criticism from so-called purists, my ardor never waned. So you can imagine my delight when I spotted one of my favorite Kenton albums at the Listening Room, where I also found the two Schneider CDs. (Yes, I paid full price). It's the goody "Kenton in Hi-Fi" and, if the title doesn't date the Capitol reissue (CDP 7 984512), what would? The Kenton classics are all here, including "Artistry Jumps," "Eager Beaver," "Peanut Vendor" and "Lover." This is a must for any nostalgic big-band fan.
So are "Quincy Jones Live in Paris Circa 1960" (Qwest/Warner 9 46190 2) and "Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars Vol. 3" (Contemporary OJCCD-266-2, C-3508), recorded between 1952-95.
Both reissues feature classic musicians. Quincy's CD deftly handles his compositions like "Moaning," "Walkin' " and "Stockholm Sweetnin." Rumsey, who played bass for Kenton in the late '40s, established Hermosa Beach, Calif., as the home for his Lighthouse All-Stars. Anyone who grew up with jazz in the 1950s was well aware of the West Coast sound made popular by All-Stars such as Shorty Rogers, Max Roach, Shelly Manne, Frank Rosolino, Jimmy Giuffre and so many others.