MARIA SCHNEIDER JAZZ ORCHESTRA — Coming About (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Composer/arranger Maria Schneider and her 18-piece orchestra perform a variety of advanced and difficult music on this CD. The centerpiece of the set is her three-part "Scenes from Childhood" which deals with fear, confusion and grudging acceptance; do not look here for any childlike melodies or playfulness. In addition the big band plays a reworked version of "Giant Steps," the "Love Theme from Spartacus," the Spanish-flavored "El Viento" (which is slightly reminiscent of Gil Evans's writing for Sketches of Spain) and "Waxwings." There are strong solos from trumpeters Greg Gisbert and Tim Hagans, Rich Perry and Rick Margitza on tenors and baritonist Scott Robinson among others but it is the sound of the full ensemble that is most memorable about this rather heavy and melancholy set. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    El Viento 11:17
Composed By – Maria Schneider
Guitar, Soloist – Ben Monder
Trombone, Soloist – Larry Farrell
Trumpet, Soloist – Greg Gisbert
2    Love Theme From »Spartacus« 7:04
Composed By – Alex North
Tenor Saxophone, Soloist – Rich Perry
Scenes From Childhood    
3    Part 1: Bombshelter Beast 9:43
Composed By – Maria Schneider
Guitar, Soloist – Ben Monder
Baritone Saxophone, Theremin, Soloist – Scott Robinson
4    Part 2: Night Watchmen 11:26
Composed By – Maria Schneider
Tenor Saxophone, Soloist – Rich Perry
Trumpet, Soloist – Tim Hagans
5    Part 3: Coming About 12:48
Composed By – Maria Schneider
Piano, Soloist – Frank Kimbrough
Tenor Saxophone, Soloist – Rick Margitza
6    Giant Steps 7:44
Alto Saxophone, Soloist – Tim Ries
Composed By – John Coltrane
Trombone, Soloist – Rock Ciccarone
Trumpet, Soloist – Tim Hagans
7    Waxwing 7:43
Composed By – Maria Schneider
Flugelhorn, Soloist – Greg Gisbert
Credits :
Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass – Tony Scherr
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute – Tim Ries
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Flute [Alto] – Mark Vinci
Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Clarinet, Flute, Theremin – Scott Robinson
Bass Trombone – George Flynn
Composed By, Arranged By, Conductor, Producer – Maria Schneider
Drums – Tim Horner
Guitar – Ben Monder
Piano – Frank Kimbrough
Tenor Saxophone – Rich Perry, Rick Margitza
Trombone – Keith O'Quinn, Larry Farrell, Rock Ciccarone
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Greg Gisbert, Laurie Frink, Tim Hagans, Tony Kadleck

MARIA SCHNEIDER ORCHESTRA — Allegresse (2000) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Similar in nature to the lush, orchestral jazz work of J.J. Johnson and Gil Evans, Schneider here conducts a large group in a suite of detailed and neo-classical pieces. By turns sentimental ("Nocturne") and carefree ("Hang Gliding"), it is a largely satisfying effort. Tim Sheridan
Tracklist :
1    Hang Gliding 13:13
Soloist [Flugelhorn] – Greg Gisbert
Soloist [Tenor Saxophone] – Rick Margitza
2    Nocturne 7:49
Soloist [Piano] – Frank Kimbrough
3    Allégresse 11:43
Soloist [Tenor Saxophone] – Rich Perry
Soloist [Trumpet, Flugelhorn] – Ingrid Jensen
4    Dissolution 20:46
Soloist [Soprano Saxophone] – Tim Ries
5    Journey Home 9:01
Soloist [Alto Saxophone] – Charles Pillow
Soloist [Guitar] – Ben Monder
6    Sea Of Tranquility 8:19
Soloist [Baritone Saxophone] – Scott Robinson
Credits :
Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass – Tony Scherr
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Ben Monder
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Piccolo Flute, Oboe, English Horn – Charles Pillow
Baritone Saxophone, Saxophone [Bass], Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute, Flute [Alto] – Scott Robinson
Bass Trombone, Tuba – George Flynn
Composed By, Producer, Conductor – Maria Schneider
Drums – Jeff Ballard, Tim Horner
Percussion – Jeff Ballard
Piano – Frank Kimbrough
Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Flute [Alto] – Tim Ries
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Rich Perry
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Rick Margitza
Trombone – Keith O'Quinn, Larry Farrell, Rock Ciccarone
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Dave Ballou, Greg Gisbert, Ingrid Jensen, Laurie Fink
Trumpet, Trumpet [Piccolo], Flugelhorn – Tony Kadleck

MARIA SCHNEIDER ORCHESTRA — The Thompson Fields (2015) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Walking By Flashlight 5:01
Soloist, Alto Clarinet – Scott Robinson
2    The Monarch And The Milkweed 12:07
Soloist, Flugelhorn – Greg Gisbert
Soloist, Trombone – Marshall Gilkes
3    Arbiters Of Evolution 13:59
Soloist, Baritone Saxophone – Scott Robinson
Soloist, Tenor Saxophone – Donny McCaslin
4    The Thompson Fields 10:00
Soloist, Guitar – Lage Lund
Soloist, Piano – Frank Kimbrough
5    Home 7:45
Soloist, Tenor Saxophone – Rich Perry
6    Nimbus 9:31
Soloist, Alto Saxophone – Steve Wilson
7    A Potter's Song 5:29
Soloist, Accordion – Gary Versace
8    Lembrança 13:30
Soloist, Bass – Jay Anderson
Soloist, Trombone – Ryan Keberle
Credits :
Accordion – Gary Versace
Alto Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Alto Flute – Steve Wilson
Alto Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Alto Flute, Bass Flute, Piccolo Flute – Dave Pietro
Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Alto Clarinet, Clarinet – Scott Robinson
Bass – Jay Anderson
Bass Trombone – George Flynn
Conductor, Composed By, Producer, Mixed By – Maria Schneider
Drums – Clarence Penn
Guitar – Lage Lund
Percussion – Rogerio Boccato (tracks: 8)
Piano – Frank Kimbrough
Tenor Saxophone – Rich Perry
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute – Donny McCaslin
Trombone – Keith O'Quinn, Marshall Gilkes, Ryan Keberle
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Augie Haas, Greg Gisbert, Mike Rodriguez, Tony Kadleck