Maria Schneider: ‘American Crow’

Maria Schneider is a true musical genius and it was such an honour that I was able to interview her for Harmonious World in 2020. Now she has released a new EP - ‘American Crow’ - that is an extension of her wonderful album ‘Data Lords’.

Schneider says: “Every time I hear my band play, I witness the magic of listening. A true jazz improvisor thrives on listening ... Jazz shines a light on what we are allowing to slip away in our brittle and fractured world, making our art form more relevant today than ever before.“American Crow is an extension of my double album, Data Lords. It speaks to the toxicity of our present social discourse that’s devolved into an impenetrable knot of curated rage. We crow about each other incessantly, having lost almost any ability or wish to really listen and understand those with whom we disagree.” 

As usual for Schneider’s work, the musicians are impeccable. The title track features Mike Rodriguez on trumpet and, of course, the whole ensemble shines, with texture that demonstrates the composition and orchestration genius.

Data Lords was a truly extraordinary piece of work that nearly got lost in the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns, but nevertheless won Grammy awards as Large Jazz Ensemble Album, while the track Sputnik won Best Instrumental Composition. Now, on American Crow, Schneider reimagines A World Lost as a remarkable feature for the guitar.

If the image of crows is not enough to make us all think about how we use our voices in the modern age, a field recording of crows segues into an alternate take of the title track. And, as if this music isn’t perfect as it is, the physical design of the EP by Cheri Dorr includes original commissioned artwork by Aaron Horkey, who also painted the leaf for Data Lords. 

Schneider is fiercely vocal about the ‘data lords’ who control creative work. American Crow is being made, funded and documented through ArtistShare®, the world’s first direct-to-fan funding platform, which Schneider first used in 2003. This is her seventh ArtistShare® project.

Schneider says: “My hope is that every aspect of this release, visual and aural, will make us all question whether we want to untangle ourselves from the knot of curated rage ravaging our society. I hope it makes one ask, ‘Can I find it in myself to listen and engage in respectful conversation to someone I disagree with? Can I be vulnerable enough to ask questions rather than preaching and yelling? Can I envision being courageous enough to taking that first step that opens the door, possibly inviting a reciprocal open ear from someone with whom I disagree? Can I embrace in my daily life the attributes that have made jazz great.’"

Discover Maria Schneider’s American Crow on ArtistShare®