Allegresse

By TERRY TEACHOUT

Where is jazz headed in the 21st century? Swing this way and see. These large-scale compositions for big band (including Dissolution, Schneider's first dance score) are full of rainbow clouds of translucent, glittering sound, interwoven with the compelling solos of such top instrumentalists as pianist Frank Kimbrough and trumpeter Ingrid Jensen. To call Schneider the most important woman in jazz is missing the point two ways. She's a major composer--period.

--By Terry Teachout