Maria Schneider Orchestra at Disney Hall tonight.

[Allan Songer]

I've got some killer Orchestra seats. After an early dinner at Musso-Frank and a couple of cocktails I should be ready.

Never seen/heard her group live. Can't say I love her albums, but so many have told be she has to be heard/seen live . . .

[RDK]

I'm the same way, Allan, re: her albums - wonderful music but a bit too, I dunno, precious for my tastes in some ways - but I saw her live last summer at UCLA and her band does put on a fine show. Ms. Schneider herself is an absolute delight; very personable, witty, and charming on stage. I've been very tempted to go tonight, but the family's been a bit under the weather this week...

[Adam]

I have a ticket, but need to see how under the weather I am...

[medjuck]

Sounds like a great evening. Make sure it's a very early dinner. The drive to downtown from Hollywood cam be a bitch.

[Guest]

I saw her on Monday here in Seattle. I haven't heard her records and only really had a context for her from reading Downbeat. I went to the show because I always try to spend some time with Ingrid Jensen when she's in town and I like to take every chance I can get to see her play.

It was a really good show. I was very impressed and glad I went. Maria Schneider herself is quite likable. I was writing with someone who I went to the show with and observed “didn’t her high school guidance councilor in that small town in Minnesota tell her that a career as a commissioned jazz composer and conductor of a jazz orchestra is not possible in this day and age?” It made me really happy to see her doing it and to get a feel for her perspective on it, which is very affable and humble. There was the clear presentation of carefully conceived and prepared art, which is often missing from jazz performance. And she’s traveling with great musicians.

All in all, not really my thing, but I really enjoyed it and taken on his own merits, I think it’s going to prove to be one of the better shows I’ll see this year. She was here 2 nights and they had to add a 3rd show to accommodate. All 3 sold out and were packed. I don’t know the capacity of the venue, but call it maybe 300 people per seating. She probably could have sold out a week here.

That’s my quick review. Your mileage may vary. I’ll look forward to your reviews as well.

[Allan Songer]

  medjuck said:

Sounds like a great evening. Make sure it's a very early dinner. The drive to downtown from Hollywood cam be a bitch.

I do it every single day. I have my business is in Hollywood and I live in Long Beach. I've done this commute for 21 years.

Edited February 8, 2006 by Allan Songer

[Guest]

is she related to:

[Adam]

An don't forget that the Grammys are tonight at the Staples Center. So everything south of 8th street or so will be tied up. Good thing Disney Hall is on 1st.

[randissimo]

I heard her band on NPR recently and was very impressed.. There was one composition that was inspired by an experience she had sky diving off a cliff somewhere in Brazil I believe.. The arrangement blew me away!

[Free For All]

  randissimo said:

I heard her band on NPR recently and was very impressed.. There was one composition that was inspired by an experience she had sky diving off a cliff somewhere in Brazil I believe.. The arrangement blew me away!

It was "Hang Gliding".......that is a great composition.

[Guest]

Did anyone make it to that show last night? I'd love to read your impressions.

[Allan Songer]

  TroyK said:

Did anyone make it to that show last night? I'd love to read your impressions.

I was there.

All very nice and tidy. My wife (who has been known to blast Sun Ra at full volume when nobody's home) called it "the worst sort of stinky bad shit with no fucking soul whatsoever." But she's an anarchist at heart, so this I can understand.

I won't be that harsh. I'll admit to being bored and that's a pretty bad indictment. It was all very pretty and full of interesting beats and changes and accordians, but I don't think I'll ever need go to another Maria Schneider Ortchestra concert any time soon.

Ms. Schneider is as cute as a button and seems incredibly earnest--pretty hard not to like her. And the band can flat out PLAY, but there IS no swing or "fucking soul" as my wife so aptly put it

[Adam]

I agree. (I went as well). Pretty, but nothing essential. I wasn't bored (well, not often), but I wasn't sent anywhere either. Everyone gets well-behaved once they are placed in the confines of Disney Hall.

[Adam]

The set list (too many people in the band to list).

-- Concert in the Garden

-- Chord Dancado (from Concert in the Garden)

-- Journey Home (from Allegresse)

-- El Viento

second set:

-- Andes de Lando (sp?) - a new commission from the LA PHilharmonic and a bunch of other people. Composition based on visit to Peru, and the Peruvian polyrhythm known as "La Do" (sp?)

-- unnamed, but a portrait of Windham, MN, also commission by a bunch of organizations. She is looking forward to playing this is Windham in a couple of weeks. The way she described it made it sound very programatic, but it wasn't so much.

-- Sky Blue

-- Hang Gliding (from Allegresse)

encore:

-- Sea of Tranquility (from Allegresse)

Oh, someone played accordion but was not listed in the program. First name Gary. He had to leave early to catch a red eye. I couldn't hear his last name due to the applause. Gary Versace?

Edited February 9, 2006 by Adam

[Guest]

This was pretty much my experience, which is why I said "not really my thing, but...".

It was well performed and it's hard to doubt Ms. Schneider's sincerity about what she's doing. I was really thrilled that such a thing can exist in 2006 and sell out shows like that. My only complaints about it really come down to my personal taste and preferences.

There was some great musicianship. I was having one of those "is this even jazz?" conversations in my head until I told myself "Self! Shut up and just except it for what it is." Plus, she's cute as a button. Sorry, someone had to say it. It shouldn't matter, but it does. And I don't really even just mean it the way it sounds. Her little Minnasota accent and her humble, excited little happy energy. Just made me smile.

But, she's no Hank Mobley, it's true.

[Alec]

TroyK

I saw Maria a few weeks ago when she played at Dartmouth.

I enjoyed the second set more than the first. (mostly the same set list as posted). I think in the first set I overdosed on the accordion.

I really enjoyed Ingrid Jensen's playing. I thought she has a great tone (okay, I'm not a musician so I'm not sure how to describe the quality of her playing that I like). Does Ingrid have anything as a leader or in a small group setting?

Any suggestions?

[Guest]

  Alec said:

TroyK

I saw Maria a few weeks ago when she played at Dartmouth.

I enjoyed the second set more than the first. (mostly the same set list as posted). I think in the first set I overdosed on the accordion.

I really enjoyed Ingrid Jensen's playing. I thought she has a great tone (okay, I'm not a musician so I'm not sure how to describe the quality of her playing that I like). Does Ingrid have anything as a leader or in a small group setting?

Any suggestions?

Yeah, she does. And interestingly enough I was just talking about her records with some of my friends. I have a Virgina Meyhew record called "No Walls" that Ingrid plays on that I think is really good. Ingrid's early sessions as a leader like Vernal Fields are highly aclaimed, but I don't have them. I asked her about them once and she said something about the label they were recorded on not releasing them so they're not in production and she doesn't own the rights to them. I may have that somewhat wrong, but if you try to order them, you won't be able to. You can look for used copies on eBay or Amazon. But she also has some newer ones.

She has one that is just out. I heard a little bit of it tonight and liked it. Can't think of what it's called right now, but Google her and you'll see. However, her records don't reach me like seeing her play live does. She's really dynamic in person. And she's a cool person.

Go looking for some of her records and see what you think. And for God Sakes, if she plays within a short drive of you, go check out the show.

[marcello]

Recomended by myself and Uncle Skid:

Ingrid Jensen

[Alec]

marcello and TroyK

thanks for the info. I'm glad to see that her latest is on artist shareI think it's a great approach to selling music. I checked amazon, and I'm going to pick up some of her stuff.