Sax Man Snidero Keeps ‘Standards’ High

Alto saxophonist Jim Snidero has found that jazz fans can pop up in the strangest places.

He came upon one just as he was about to go under anesthesia for foot surgery last month at Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan.

“The anesthesiologist said to me, ‘Before we do anything else, I want you to sign this,’ ” the saxophonist recalled. Then the anesthesiologist pulled out a copy of Snidero’s latest CD, “Standards + Plus.”

“It was really cool,” said Snidero, a telling post-bebop musician of warmth and originality who is regarded as among New York’s finest players. “It made me feel great, thinking that the normal guy on the street could get into this record. He told me he had heard it on the radio and it gave him goose bumps, so he went out and bought it.”

Snidero makes his Orange County debut Saturday at Steamers Cafe in Fullerton. He feels that “Standards + Plus”--his 10th album, which contains compelling interpretations of such classics as “ ‘Round Midnight”--is his most successful recording.

“It’s accessible yet fresh,” Snidero said in an interview from his Manhattan home. “There’s a lot of spirit on the record, and yet I think my playing is very relaxed. Overall, I like it a bit more [than my others]. I’m just playing and having a good time.”

Snidero acknowledges such influences as saxophonists Charlie Parker and John Coltrane and trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. He’s a 1981 graduate of the University of North Texas. Since college, he has played with Toshiko Akiyoshi’s Jazz Orchestra, Eddie Palmieri, Jack McDuff and Frank Sinatra, and he’s now gaining notice both as a performer and teacher.

He’s on the staff at the Mannes School of Contemporary Music in New York City, and, as a clinician for Selmer Saxophones, he often appears at high schools and colleges, hoping to inspire younger players. Today, he’s conducting clinics at Esperanza High in Fullerton and La Mirada High.

“My job is to show students the best ways to practice and improve,” Snidero said. Two things are “absolutely key”: transcribing solos off recordings and emphasizing style. Of the latter, he said, “It’s so important to sound good and swing, to be able to play with nuance.”

The saxophonist is also the author of a recent series of books, “Jazz Conception,” published by Advance Music. The books employ etudes and a play-along recording in introducing musicians to jazz style. Written for such instruments as guitar, alto and tenor sax and trumpet, the series is centered around pieces by Snidero based on standard tunes such as “Satin Doll” and “I Got Rhythm.” On the accompanying CD, noted jazz musicians, among them trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, play the etudes.

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Snidero, a native of Camp Springs, Md., took up alto saxophone at age 10 and fell in love with jazz when he played in a big band in junior high. “I knew I wanted to be involved with that kind of music. I was excited. It made me feel so good.”

While in high school, Snidero took a few lessons from alto great Phil Woods, then attended North Texas, where he immersed himself in the modern-minded music of Coltrane and Miles Davis. After graduating, he moved to New York and soon went on the road with organist McDuff. “He made me realize the importance of the tradition, of swinging.” Then came Akiyoshi’s orchestra, performances with Latin music wizard Palmieri, and leading his own bands.

At Steamers, he’ll be joined by pianist David Roitstein, bassist Darek Oles and drummer Joe LaBarbera. He knows the latter two but not the pianist. They’ll have to play sans rehearsal, a situation that has special benefits.

“If the cats are good, there’s an excitement, an anticipation because it’s a new experience,” he said.

Despite his accomplishments over 30 years as a musician, Snidero said there still are things he can’t do.

“It’s such a challenge, but I wouldn’t want it any other way,” he said. “I get to bring a lot of happiness to people when I play, and that’s really satisfying.”

* Jim Snidero appears Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at Steamers Cafe, 138 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton. Free. (714) 871-8800.