Concert in the Garden

Background

Schneider's three previous albums were nominated for Grammy Awards, but the previous one, Allegresse, was released four years before Concert in the Garden. The delay has been attributed to the financial difficulty of recording with large groups, which are required for the music that Schneider writes.

Music

The compositions on Schneider's album are "more influenced by Spanish, flamenco and Brazilian forms than any of her previous works". "Choro Dançado" contains interwoven formal motives, leading to a tenor saxophone solo by Rich Perry. "Pas de Deux" builds slowly in intensity, increasing in volume when Ingrid Jensen's flugelhorn and Charles Pillow's soprano saxophone join in. "Dança Ilusória" consists of a "through-composed line, with jewel-like solos embedded in it from Frank Kimbrough and trombonist Larry Farrell". "Buleria, Soleá y Rumba" also begins quietly, with the tenor saxophone of Donny McCaslin appearing over the orchestra and gradually pulling it along.

Reception

The Jazz Times review was largely positive, commenting that "Three Romances" and "Buleria, Solea y Rumba" "are revelatory in their complete realization", but that the solos on the other piece "are not strong enough to provide sufficient contrast to the piece's slow, hovering progress".

The Penguin Guide to Jazz gave it a maximum four stars and included it in its recommended Core Collection. It also stated that "Concert in the Garden" was a weakness, but that overall the album was "the great achievement of her career so far".

Track listing

All tracks written by Maria Schneider.