progressive jazz

Biography
Schneider was born in Windom, Minnesota. She moved to New York City in 1985 after attending college at the University of Minnesota, the University of Miami and the Eastman School of Music. She studied under Bob Brookmeyer and Gil Evans, working on various projects with Evans, including the film The Color of Money. Schneider formed the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra in 1993, appearing weekly at Visiones in Greenwich Village for five years. Her orchestra performed at many jazz festivals and toured Europe.

Read more about Maria Schneider on Last.fm.

Michael Joseph Keneally (Born December 20, 1961) is an American musician.
Born in Long Island, New York, he moved to San Diego, California at an early age and has been a fixture on the local music scene there since 1985 when he formed the local cult band, Drop Control.
Although a well established musician in his own right, Keneally is probably most well known as former Frank Zappa "stunt guitarist" and a Zappa 1988 tour band member.

"Darcy James Argue's big band skillfully realizes the leader's mature, emotive compositions and thick arrangements." — Hank Shteamer, Time Out NY “Darcy James Argue has developed an experimental yet accessible voice as a composer… his gifts are outstanding.” — Bob Brookmeyer A rising composer on the New York jazz scene, Darcy James Argue directs Secret Society, a dynamic 18-piece band featuring his original works.

Tim Berne (born 1954) is an American jazz saxophone player and composer. Though Berne was a music fan, he had no interest in playing a musical instrument until he was in college, when he purchased an alto saxophone. He was more interested in rhythm and blues music--Stax records releases and Aretha Franklin, especially--until he heard a recording by Julius Hemphill. Hemphill was known for his integration of soul music and funk with free jazz. Berne moved to New York City in 1974. There Berne took lessons from Hemphill, and later recorded with him.