Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Maria Schneider: Concert In The Garden

278

Maria Schneider: Concert In The Garden

By

Sign in to view read count
Maria Schneider: Concert In The Garden
With her new release, the magnificent Concert In The Garden , composer-arranger Maria Schneider has taken very real artistic and commercial risks. She has produced the CD herself, and has authorized a limited release, available only from her website. She has taken complete artistic and financial control of her music, with all the uncertainties inherent therein.

The music is certainly ambitious. The pieces are lengthy, and they flow effortlessly from one to the next, as if the entire album were one piece. Much of the music is through-composed, and the solos grow organically from the compositions, and always serve the music. The compositions integrate rhythms and forms from Spain and Brazil, reflecting Schneider's interest in the music and dance of these countries, and master drummer Clarence Penn effectively juggles all the complexities with sensitivity and swing. His sensitive brushwork (the late Mel Lewis called playing with brushes "the lost art") on "Danca Ilusoria" is especially noteworthy.

Everything works on this album. Schneider's compositions are pure beauty, with lines and motives opening up like flowers, supported by a dazzling variety of rhythms and tempi. Her voicings are unique in jazz, although the benign influence of Gil Evans and Bob Brookmeyer is subtly felt. These voicings include a literal voice, that of Luciana Souza, whose wordless syllables sound so wonderful alongside Gary Versace's accordion on the title piece.

The solos are all splendid. They are heartful, nuanced, imaginative, and appropriate to the music. In particular, Rich Perry's tenor turn on "Choro Dancado" and Ingrid Jensen's flugelhorn work on "Pas De Deus" are especially good. Jensen performs a soulful, intricate dance with Charles Pillow's soprano sax that reaffirms her stature as one of today's greatest jazz trumpeters. Concert In The Garden is an epic achievement, full of great music, lyricism, and life-affirming joy. It is a masterpiece.

Track Listing

Concert in the Garden, Three Romances: part 1--Choro Dancado; part 2--Pas De Deux; part 3--Danca Ilusoria; Buleria, Solea Y Rumba

Personnel

Maria Schneider
composer / conductor

Tim Ries, Charles Pillow, Rich Perry, Donny McCaslin, Scott Robinson--reeds; Tony Kadleck, Greg Gisbert, Laurie Frink, Ingrid Jensen--trumpet and fluegelhorn; Keith O'Quinn, Rock Ciccarone, Larry Farrell, Pete McGuinness--trombone; George Flynn--bass trombone and contrabass trombone; Ben Monder--guitar; Frank Kimbrough--piano; Jay Anderson--bass; Clarenece Penn--drums; Jeff Ballard--cajon and quinto cajon; Gonzalo Grau--cajon; Gary Versace--accordion; Luciana Sousa--voice, Andy Middleton--tenor sax

Album information

Title: Concert in the Garden | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: ArtistShare

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.