Art Blakey - Art's Break (1976) [vinyl>flac]

New link in comments.

This obscure Blakey release on the Italian Lotus label presents a typical Messengers' live date from the group with Hardman & Schnitter. The recording date of 1972, given on the sleeve, is obviously incorrect and 1976 seems far more likely, this being the same band that appeared on an Umbria Jazz Festival video.

Bird Like
Whisper Not
Blues March
Perception

Bill Hardman (tp) David Schnitter (ts) Mickey Tucker (p) Cameron Brown (b) Art Blakey (d)
label claims: Oslo, Norway & Tunis, Tunisia, 1972 but most likely Tunis, 1976.

Alpax suggests Perception sounds like it's from another date, possibly 1969 or 1972 with Woody Shaw on trumpet.

Red Rodney - Home Free (1977) [vinyl>re-rip>flac]

From 1976-79, trumpeter Red Rodney recorded three LPs with altoist Richie Cole that otherwise mostly used different lineups of musicians. This excellent outing (which also includes tenor saxophonist David Schnitter, pianist Barry Harris, bassist George Duvivier and drummer Leroy Williams) has a bit of a jam session feel to it. Cole contributed "Starburst" and "Red Rodney Rides Again"; the trio plays Rodney's "Helene," and the full group romps on "Out of Nowhere," "All the Things You Are" and "Bluebird." By 1977, Rodney's chops were back in prime form, and his mastery of bebop (along with the colorful Cole's) is obvious in these recordings. Worth searching for. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.

Muse Records, MR 5135, 1979

Recorded 19th December, 1977 at CI Recording Studio New York City

Musicians:

Red Rodney - Trumpet

Richie Cole - Alto Saxophone

David Schnitter - Tenor Saxophone

Barry Harris - Piano

George Duvivier - Bass

Leroy Williams - Drums

Tracks:

1. Starburst {Richie Cole} (5:41)

2. Out Of Nowhere {Johnny Green} (6:17)

3. All The Things You Are {Jerome Kern} (9:16)

4. Red Rodney Rides Again {Richie Cole} (5:53)

5. Helene {Red Rodney} (5:35)

6. Bluebird {Charlie Parker} (9:35)

Credits:

Producer - Bob Porter

Engineer - Chuck Irwin

Album Design - Mark Kaplan

Barry Harris courtesy of Xanadu Records

David Schnitter - Invitation (1976)

Having joined Blakey in 1974, this was Schnitter's debut album under his own name, the first of four impressive albums recorded for Muse.I find it astonishing that none appear to have made it to CD!

Biography by Scott Yanow:
"An excellent hard bop tenor saxophonist most influenced by Dexter Gordon, David Schnitter's rise in the jazz world in the 1970s preceded the "young lions"; unfortunately, he has maintained a much lower profile since the early '80s. After starting on clarinet, Schnitter permanently switched to tenor when he was 15. He played locally, moved to New York, gigged with Ted Dunbar, and then was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers from 1974-1979. He worked with Freddie Hubbard from 1979-1981, and had associations with Frank Foster, Charles Earland, and Groove Holmes. David Schnitter sounded fine on numerous records with Blakey and as a leader for Muse during 1976-1981, but not enough has been heard from him since."


01 - Invitation
02 - Blue Monk
03 - Body & Soul
04 - Donna Lee
05 - Fat Face Fenner's Saloon

Dave Schnitter (ts) Mickey Tucker (p) James Leary (b) Ed Marshall (d)
San Francisco, 1976

Richard 'Groove' Holmes - Shippin' Out

Once again, a brand new rip - MUCH better than the old one.

Richard 'Groove' Holmes - Shippin' Out
Muse 5134, 1978
 recorded 1977

1) Feelings
2) Windows
3) Stella By Starlight
4) Where or When
5) Shippin' Out

Groove Holmes organ, David Schnitter tenor sax, Steve Giordano guitar, Idris Muhammed drums, Bobby Caldwell conga

Are those the twin towers of the World Trade Center I see off in the distance on this cover shot? I guess this one is pretty rare since I can't even find mention of it on google. I found my copy at a discogs vendor who specializes in punk rock and when I received it the vinyl looked like some punk rockers had played frisbee with it. After a good cleaning, a re-rip and a pass through Izotope RX3, I think it sounds awesome!

This is a nice record -- Groove is well, Groove and Schnitter and Giordano give fine performances on tenor and guitar in support. and as it says in the liner notes: "The players are fine. The music is fine. The recording is excellent. These are the facts."

Dave Schnitter @ Small's

 When grumpy posted the muse albums of Dave Schnitter the common refrain was 'what happened to this guy?', well he is apparently alive and well in NYC and plays regularly at Small's Jazz Club. A long time reader B.E. sent this to me after noticing the interest from the earlier post.

This is a nice live recording marred only by some motor-mouth in the background who is obviously convinced that what he has to say is far more important that the music being played, sigh. Fortunately he eventually either shuts up or leaves.

Joining Schnitter are Spike Wilner on piano, Ugonna Okegwo on bass and Anthony Pinciotti on drums, enjoyable players all. This particular show was February 12th of this year.

I believe that this blurry screen shot is likely of the same band on a different night.