Maria Schneider Orchestra

Maria Schneiders music has been praised by critics as evocative, majestic, magical, heart-stoppingly gorgeous, and beyond categorization. She and her 18-member orchestra have performed at concert halls around the world and have received seven GRAMMYs, many Jazz Journalist Awards, and numerous DOWNBEAT and JAZZTIMES Readers and Critics Polls. Schneiders music blurs the lines between genres, making her long list of commissioners quite varied, stretching from jazz to classical, and dance, even collaborating with David Bowie. She is among a small few to have received GRAMMYs in multiple genres, having received the award in both jazz and classical, as well as for her work with David Bowie. Shes holds honorary doctorates from the University of Minnesota and Eastman School of Music. In 2019, the National Endowment for the Arts bestowed on Schneider the nations highest honor in jazz, naming her an NEA Jazz Master. Musicians performing in her orchestra throughout this week at Birdland are: Reeds include Steve Wilson, Dave Pietro, Rich Perry, Donny McCaslin, John Ellis, Scott Robinson; Trumpets feature Tony Kadleck, Greg Gisbert, Nadje Noordhuis, Michael Dudley, Mike Rodriguez; Trombones consist of Keith OQuinn, Ryan Keberle, Marshall Gilkes, George Flynn; Accordion is played by Julien Labro; Guitar is performed by Jeff Miles; Piano is handled by Gary Versace; Bass is led by Jay Anderson; Drums are played by Johnathan Blake and Rudy Royston.