COMPOSER MARIA SCHNEIDER AND HER ACCLAIMED 2004 CD “CONCERT IN THE GARDEN" NOMINATED FOR FOUR GRAMMYS
* 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 years
* 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 years
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