The Maria Schneider Orchestra returns to our stage premiering new works (titles TBA) before they are recorded later this summer for the group’s next album. For the past quarter-century, beginning with her orchestra’s debut album Evanescence (1994), composer/conductor Maria Schneider has developed a deeply personal way of writing for her 17–member collective. Like Duke Ellington, she has tailored her compositions to highlight the individually expressive voices of her soloists. In July 2018, Maria Schneider was awarded the highest honor in jazz, as a recipient of the 2019 Jazz Masters Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. “This award is an honor I share with my orchestra of three decades,” said Maria Schneider. “The performers are inseparable from my compositions, and I thank them and share this honor with them.” From The New Yorker: “The enduring popularity of Schneider’s jazz orchestra is a combination of many factors—including the ingenuity of her compositions and arrangements, and the superlative musicianship of her ensemble—but the openhearted lyricism that imbues all of her work may be the most winning component.” Steve Wilson, Dave Pietro, Rich Perry, Donny McCaslin, Scott Robinson — reeds Tony Kadleck, Greg Gisbert, Nadje Noordhuis, Brandon Lee — trumpets Keith O'Quinn, Ryan Keberle, Marshall Gilkes, George Flynn — trombones Ben Monder — guitar Gary Versace — accordion Frank Kimbrough — piano Jay Anderson — bass Johnathan Blake — drums