Maria Schneider Orchestra

Maria Schneiders work has earned critical acclaim as profoundly moving, grandiose, enchanting, emotionally arresting, and unclassifiable. She leads an 18-piece ensemble that has toured concert venues globally, winning seven GRAMMY Awards, numerous Jazz Journalist Association honors, and multiple Downbeat and JazzTimes Reader and Critics Poll selections. Her compositions transcend stylistic boundaries, resulting in a diverse roster of commissions spanning jazz, classical, dance, and collaborations with artists such as David Bowie. She is one of the few to receive GRAMMYs across multiple genresboth for her jazz and classical workand for her partnership with Bowie. Schneiders holds honorary doctorates from the University of Minnesota and Eastman School of Music. In 2019, the National Endowment for the Arts conferred upon her the nations highest honor in jazz, designating her an NEA Jazz Master. The musicians performing in her orchestra during this week at Birdland include Reeds: Steve Wilson, Dave Pietro, Rich Perry, Donny McCaslin, John Ellis, Scott Robinson; Trumpets: Tony Kadleck, Greg Gisbert, Nadje Noordhuis, Michael Dudley, Mike Rodriguez; Trombones: Keith OQuinn, Ryan Keberle, Marshall Gilkes, George Flynn; Accordion: Julien Labro; Guitar: Jeff Miles; Piano: Gary Versace; Bass: Jay Anderson; Drums: Johnathan Blake and Rudy Royston.