* More Nominations Than Any Jazz CD or Artist in 2004 (Tied with Norah Jones) *

* “Best Instrumental Composition" (twice), “Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album" and “Best Jazz Instrumental Solo" (Donny McCaslin) *

World-renowned, New York-based composer MARIA SCHNEIDER finishes the best year of her illustrious musical career (which has included four previous Grammy nominations) with an incredible coup - four 2004 Grammy nominations for her acclaimed “Concert In The Garden" CD (as a composer and bandleader), an album that was never available in any retail store. Released in July of 2004 through ArtistShare (www.artistshare.com) and available exclusively through her website, MariaScheinder.com, the CD took the jazz and new music world by storm this year.

Schneider says of this recent flourish of recognition: “I'm so excited about these nominations because of what this recording represents. First of all, I feel this is my strongest work to date. Additionally, using ArtistShare has been such a huge change from the usual way of doing things. This project was funded with the help of my fans and distributed entirely through my own website. I feel very proud of taking that first step and incredibly grateful that it has proven to work so well!"

Music writers worldwide have expressed nothing but ultimate praise for “Concert In The Garden" and for Schneider's compositional excellence throughout this year:

“As for the world premiere of Maria Schneider's “Bulerias, Soleas y Rumbas" at Alice Tully Hall, I'll put it even more strongly: Jazz at Lincoln Center has never done anything more important than commissioning this piece. It's no secret that Schneider is the foremost big-band composer of her generation, but this powerful large-scale work, in which she blends jazz and flamenco with the skill of an alchemist, is so good that I hesitate to limit its significance by calling it big-band music, or even jazz. It is as tightly woven and emotionally compelling as a symphony, and I think it ought to be seriously considered for next year's Pulitzer Prize in music. For that matter, I'm damned if I know why Schneider hasn't received a MacArthur Fellowship. I can't think of anyone in jazz -- or any other art form -- who deserves a “genius grant" more." WASHINGTON POST - Terry Teachout

“Concert in the Garden' by the Maria Schneider Orchestra, is a strong contender for album of the year.... Schneider can take big, complex musical ideas and make them seem light and accessible - orchestral sleight of hand that's as delightfully baffling on the fifth listen as on the first time you encounter it." THE GUARDIAN (London) - John L. Walters

“Fortunately, her pieces are usually worth the wait - never more so than with the stunning new 'Concert in the Garden,' her first release in four yearsŠ. That I should mention [Charles] Mingus along with [Gil] Evans will give you an idea of the company Schneider now belongs in." VILLAGE VOICE - Francis Davis

“...the music on 'Concert in the Garden'Šreaches a new level of beauty and complexity." NEW YORK TIMES - Ben Ratliff

“ 'Concert in the Garden' will be considered a major work." JAZZ REVIEW (UK) - Bill Shoemaker

“'Concert in the Garden' represents her richest, most far-reaching work yet...Its music is gorgeous and enrapturing, with Schneider's creamy horns (augmented by Brazilian singer Luciana Souza's voice) making the title track a swirling tapestry of shade dancing with light." NEW YORK NEWSDAY - Gene Seymour

Full Maria Schneider and “Concert In The Garden" nomination information:

(1) “Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album" (Category 49) for “Concert In The Garden."

(2-3) “Best Instrumental Composition" (Category 82) for “Buleria, Solea Y Rumba" (as performed by the Maria Schneider Orchestra) and “Three Romances" (as performed by the Miami Concert Jazz Band"

(4) “Best Jazz Instrumental Solo" (Category 47) for Donny McCaslin, on “Buleria, Solea Y Rumba"

The Grammy Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, February 13, 2005, in Los Angeles. For more information on the Grammys, visit www.grammy.com.

MARIA SCHNEIDER
Jazz may be her core, but Schneider has cut through the boundaries of the form to embrace a larger musical world, one that is accessible, no matter what you call it. Schneider, upon graduation from Eastman School of Music, became a protégé of Bob Brookmeyer (with whom she studied composition) and assistant to Gil Evans. She comments on how her music has developed since then. “I think my music has started to more deeply reflect the world of music that I've enjoyed listening to in recent the last years. The rhythmic, harmonic and melodic flavors in my work are undoubtedly influenced by my love of Spanish, flamenco, and Brazilian music. Jazz is still at my core, but the intricacy and development one would find in classical music is more present. Even I become hard pressed to define my music."

Schneider's debut recording, Evanescence, was nominated for two 1995 Grammy Awards: “Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance," and, for its title piece, “Best Instrumental Composition." Her second and third recordings Coming About and Allégresse were also both nominated for Grammy Awards as well. Schneider received three Jazz Journalist Awards as “Best Composer," “Best Arranger," and “Best Big Band" for her Orchestra. She has won many of the DownBeat and JazzTimes Critics and Readers Polls. Her third album, Allégresse, was chosen by both Time and Billboard in their “Top Ten recordings of 2000," inclusive of all genres of music. Concert In The Garden, her fourth album as a leader was released in July of 2004.