This reissue of Jim Snidero's Strings on Savant Records marks 20 years since the album was to be recorded in New York on 9/11/01, the day of the terrifying attacks on the World Trade Center. Recorded a few months later and released on Milestone, the session ultimately resulted in "a stone masterpiece" (Philadelphia Weekly), "breathtaking achievement" (East Bay Times), 4 stars (Downbeat). Out of print for nearly a decade, Strings has been beautifully remastered and now includes enhanced bass arco parts, adding richness and depth to an all-star string section. Released to wide acclaim, Strings captures some of Snidero's finest writing and playing - not a standards date with a hired gun arranger, but rather a deep dive by Snidero himself into the art of strings arranging, with predominantly his music as the vehicle. In the process, Snidero not only broadened his skill set, but the expressive capacity of his art. Snidero's vibrant compositions, including the three-movement Hudson River homage "River Suite", are brought to life by pianist Renee Rosnes, bassist Paul Gill, drummer Billy Drummond and a supremely qualified cast of string players including Mark Feldman, Laura Seaton, Joyce Hamman, Tomas Ulrich, Mary Wooten, Ralph Farris, Kenji Bunch and others.

This reissue of Jim Snidero's Strings on Savant Records marks 20 years since the album was to be recorded in New York on 9/11/01, the day of the terrifying attacks on the World Trade Center. Recorded a few months later and released on Milestone, the session ultimately resulted in "a stone masterpiece" (Philadelphia Weekly), "breathtaking achievement" (East Bay Times), 4 stars (Downbeat). Out of print for nearly a decade, Strings has been beautifully remastered and now includes enhanced bass arco parts, adding richness and depth to an all-star string section. Released to wide acclaim, Strings captures some of Snidero's finest writing and playing - not a standards date with a hired gun arranger, but rather a deep dive by Snidero himself into the art of strings arranging, with predominantly his music as the vehicle. In the process, Snidero not only broadened his skill set, but the expressive capacity of his art. Snidero's vibrant compositions, including the three-movement Hudson River homage "River Suite", are brought to life by pianist Renee Rosnes, bassist Paul Gill, drummer Billy Drummond and a supremely qualified cast of string players including Mark Feldman, Laura Seaton, Joyce Hamman, Tomas Ulrich, Mary Wooten, Ralph Farris, Kenji Bunch and others.

Alto saxophonist's quintet w. Brian Lynch, Benny Green, Peter Washington, Marvin "Smitty" Smith. (Previously deleted 1/1/07. Original release date: Pre-2000)

To mark the 40th anniversary of his debut recording as a bandleader in 1984, alto saxophonist Jim Snidero set out to create something special with his 28th album-and his second trio project to date with jazz masters Peter Washington on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums. Fresh off the success of For All We Know (Savant), particularly the standout track "Parkers Mood", Snidero felt the time was right to pay tribute to Charlie Parker, an artist he regards as "the king of the hill." Ranked among the top five alto saxophonists in Down Beat's 2024 Critics Poll, Snidero is more than qualified to honor one of the bebop pioneers.

With his first vinyl release in over 30 years, Jim Snidero has selected his favorite cuts from two critically acclaimed sax trio recordings, "For All We Know" and "Bird Feathers," with jazz greats Peter Washington on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums. The result is a deeply satisfying set that demonstrates why Snidero placed in the top five of the alto saxophone category in the 2024 DownBeat Magazine International Critics Poll. Equally divided between a homage to the great Charlie Parker and three beautifully interpreted standards, this swinging trio projects a warm maturity that is further accentuated by the analog 180-gram vinyl format.

“…SteepleChase producer Nils Winther's interest in documenting spontaneous meetings of talented musicians deserves praise, demanding single takes and no rehearsals to keep the music fresh and the players on their toes… ” (Ken Dryden on Vols.17 & 18 – AllAboutJazz-NY)

Two-saxophone setting is burning & atmospheric in the Cannonball & Coltrane mode, feat. Walt Weiskopf-sax, David Hazeltine-pno, Peter Washington-bss, Tony Reedus-drms.

Alto saxophonist's quintet w. Brian Lynch, Benny Green, Peter Washington, and Jeff "Tain" Watts, recorded December 24, 1987.

With his alto sound soaring over a sax trio format on For All We Know, Jim Snidero demonstrates why he is a critical link in the alto saxophone lineage. Snidero pares down the soundscape to it's essence, utilizing a selection of standards to illuminate a rare combination of virtuosity, musicality and depth along with jazz masters Peter Washington-bass and Joe Fransworth-drums. With a tone quality that's second to none-Stereophile cited his sound as "one of the richest and purest on the planet"-Jim Snidero has showcased an enviable resonance in myriad contexts over the better part of the past four decades and 25 previous releases. Now, placing himself in the most exposed setting he's ever inhabited, Snidero reaches the apex on the alto saxophone.

FAR FAR AWAY is a sonic powerhouse, leveraging every aspect of this magnificent, all-star quintet. Kurt Rosenwinkel's searing, innovative playing is on full display, Jim Snidero demonstrates a broadsword of a sound, and the rhythm section of Orrin Evans, Peter Washington and Joe Farnsworth groove and interact at the highest levels of artistry. Building on the 5-star success (Down beat Magazine) of LIVE AT THE DEER HEAD INN, which included Evans, Washington and Farnsworth, Snidero adds fuel to the fire with the addition of Rosenwinkel's highly influential guitar style. The result is an inspired performance bursting at the seams with musicality and drive. Jim Snidero's six originals create the perfect mix of current trends and tradition. Swing, Latin, and Euro grooves are all represented, yet the album is surprisingly cohesive, flowing from one tune to the next. The classics "It Might as Well be Spring" and McCoy Tyner's deeply relevant "Search for Peace" round out this amazing release.

2018 release. Cannonball Adderley is considered to be one of the all-time greatest jazz musicians; one whose playing projected depth and command. But, he also possessed the rare ability to connect and uplift the listener, shouting out "joy" in every phrase. For his 90th birthday, "Jubilation!" celebrates the genius of Cannonball Adderley. Beloved veterans Jim Snidero (Downbeat critics' poll) and Jeremy Pelt create a formidable front line while David Hazeltine, Nat Reeves and Billy Drummond form an incomparable rhythm section. It's an all-star lineup celebrating a true jazz giant.

MD66

Alto saxophonist Jim Snidero brings the sum total of his experiences to the fore on Main Street, including those as a leader as well as a sideman with Frank Wess, the Mingus Big Band, Jack McDuff, and Toshiko Akiyoshi. Here he draws upon a quarter-century of touring experiences for a trip through some of the American experience via a cycle of new compositions and two covers. With bassist Linda Oh, drummer Rudy Royston and Cuban pianist Fabian Almazan, Main Street offers fresh original material, imaginative arrangements, inspired soloing, and cohesive yet spontaneous group interaction.

Jim Snidero is known to spin out wonderfully clean, inventive lines. His transparent sound and rapid execution evoke the early Art Pepper, as well as one of Snidero's own teachers Phil Woods. He never resorts to aimless scribbling, even at the quickest tempos, while his ballad interpretations are filled with exquisitely oblique lines. This, the saxophonist's second release for Savant, presents a unique ensemble, with no keyboard of any kind, the rhythm section of Paul Gill, bass and Billy Drummond, drums propel the proceedings forward while fret-master Paul Bollenback lays down the changes.

If you trace the path of alto saxophonist Jim Snidero's varied output for Savant, you'll note transitions with regard to instrumentation and personnel: from organ combo to quartets with guitar or piano, to the animated quintet music of tributes to Miles (MD66) and Cannonball Adderley (Jubilation!). With Waves of Calm, the veteran altoist enters a period of zeroing in on the essentials. As the saxophonist himself says, "I find myself editing more and more. I've been playing saxophone for a long time, and could easily play a lot more notes...[but now] you're just looking for the right note at the right moment, searching for that one perfect thing." With trumpeter Jeremy Pelt on half the tracks, piano phenom Orrin Evans at the Steinway & the Rhodes and Nat Reeves and Jonathan Barber completing the rhythm section, it would Jim Snidero has indeed found that"perfect thing."

With Project-K, Jim Snidero breaks new ground. Absorbing and refracting varied aspects of Korean folkways, he delves into a topic near and dear to his home and heart. "Having a Korean wife, family and friends, I've been immersed in Korean culture for more than 20 years," he shares. "Between Korean history, culture and philosophy, I felt that there was much to explore musically." Bridging his own wide-ranging aesthetic with those very traditions, Snidero turns out one of the most distinctive dates of his career. In choosing the personnel to flesh out this music, Snidero's decisions proved shrewd and sound. The rhythm section, comprised of pianist Orrin Evans, bassist Linda May Han Oh and drummer Rudy Royston, brings a rare balance of sensitivity, strength and insight to these ventures. And trumpeter Dave Douglas serves as the perfect front line foil for the saxophonist. "I wanted to use a traditional Korean instrument on Project-K and the gayageum appealed to me the most. My goal was to fully integrate the instrument within some of the arrangements," says Snidero, and Do Yeon Kim was the natural choice. As a group, we were all able to create what I believe is both unique and inspired music."

Described as being "soulful, swinging and yet utterly modern", New York based alto saxophonist Jim Snidero's music seems to encapsulate what is both unique and compelling about jazz. Snidero exercises his composing chops on INTERFACE as well, penning all the tunes on the set list and drawing an astonishing array of color from the sax-guitar-bass-drums quartet combination.

Jim Snidero has developed a truly unique voice on the alto sax building on the foundation of the past while pointing the way to the future. With compositions that exploit the full potential of the alto saxophone's expressive range, Snidero has gathered side artists who all seem to be joined at the hip, with each providing sensitive support for the other, shadowing or provoking every move. This is challenging, thoughtful jazz which draws you in rather than alienates and which reveals no weaknesses in an unforgiving, nowhere-to-hide lineup.