The Maria Schneider Orchestra played The Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, Durango CO Feb 25. There were so many jazz luminaries that it was hard to concentrate. The hall has about a 600 seat capacity and I'm guessing that maybe 100 seats were filled. Embarrassing to be sure but this is not jazz country. It's bluegrass country. Maria was the consummate pro - never a reference to the small crowd and was engaging and funny and her conducting was fascinating. Her compositions were beautiful and hypnotic. One incredible solo after another. A really big deal in SW Colorado and very few heard it.
Steve Wilson, Dave Pietro, Rich Perry, Jon Irabagon, Scott Robinson, Greg Gisbert, Augie Haas, Nadje Noordhuis, Michael Rodriguez, Tim Albright, Ryan Keberle, Marshall Gilkes, George Flynn, Gary Versace, Ben Monder, Frank Kimbrough, Jay Anderson and Kendrick Scott
