Introduction
Herb Schriever (1931–2018) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator whose career spanned over five decades. He is remembered for his lyrical trumpet style, his contributions to big band and small ensemble repertoire, and his dedication to the development of jazz education programs in the United States. His work has influenced a generation of musicians, and his recordings remain a staple of jazz listening collections.
Early Life and Education
Family and Childhood
Herbert William Schriever was born on April 12, 1931, in St. Louis, Missouri, to a working‑class family. His father, George Schriever, was a steelworker, and his mother, Eleanor Schriever, worked as a school secretary. Growing up in a neighborhood that was a crucible of blues and early jazz, Herb was exposed to music from an early age. He began listening to recordings of Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, and Earl Hines on a phonograph in his parents’ living room.
Musical Beginnings
At the age of 10, Schriever received a second‑hand trumpet from a local music teacher. He began formal lessons and quickly progressed to playing in the school band. His teachers noted his strong tone and sense of phrasing, characteristics that would become hallmarks of his later playing. In high school, he joined the marching band and later the jazz combo, performing at community events and school functions.
Higher Education
After completing high school, Schriever enrolled at the University of Missouri, where he studied music education under the guidance of Dr. John L. Waller. He earned a Bachelor of Music in 1953 and a Master of Music in 1955. During his graduate studies, he worked as a sideman for regional touring bands and as a studio musician for local radio stations. He also began to compose original works for small ensembles, many of which were performed by the university’s jazz ensemble.
Professional Career
Early Professional Years (1955–1965)
Following his graduation, Schriever accepted a position as a staff arranger and trumpet player with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s jazz unit. His work there earned him recognition within the regional jazz community. In 1957, he joined the touring ensemble of vocalist Ella Fitzgerald for a national tour, providing trumpet solos and arrangements for the big band accompaniment. The tour exposed him to the larger jazz scene in New York and Chicago.
Move to New York City
In 1960, Schriever relocated to New York City, the epicenter of jazz innovation. He secured a position with the Duke Ellington Orchestra as a soloist and arranger, working closely with the band’s leader until 1964. During this period, he contributed arrangements for several of Ellington’s studio recordings and performed in live concerts at Carnegie Hall and the Village Vanguard.
Formation of the Herb Schriever Quartet
After leaving the Ellington ensemble, Schriever formed his own quartet, featuring bassist William “Bill” Hartman, pianist Linda Carter, and drummer Robert “Bob” Lewis. The quartet performed regularly at Birdland and the Village Vanguard, garnering a reputation for inventive improvisation and sophisticated harmonies. The group's debut recording, Midnight Reflections, was released in 1967 and received favorable reviews for its blend of modal jazz and lyrical melodic lines.
Academic Contributions
In 1971, Schriever accepted a faculty position at the Berklee College of Music, where he taught trumpet performance, arrangement, and jazz theory until his retirement in 1995. His courses emphasized historical context, stylistic analysis, and practical ensemble experience. He mentored numerous students who went on to professional careers, including trumpeters such as Donald Harrison and Terence Blanchard. In addition to classroom teaching, Schriever conducted workshops across the country, focusing on ensemble leadership and composition.
Notable Works and Compositions
Original Compositions
Schriever’s compositional output includes more than 120 pieces, ranging from ballads to bebop-inspired charts. Some of his most celebrated works include:
- Waves of the Missouri – a lyrical piece inspired by the river that runs through his hometown.
- Starlight Waltz – a modern waltz with unconventional chord progressions.
- City Lights – an energetic bebop composition that showcases rapid chord changes.
Arrangements for Big Bands
Schriever’s arranging style is noted for its clarity, voicing, and rhythmic precision. He created arrangements for several high‑profile ensembles, including the Count Basie Orchestra, the Woody Herman Big Band, and the New York Philharmonic’s Jazz Orchestra. His arrangements often incorporated contemporary harmonies while preserving the swing feel that defined early jazz.
Film and Television Scores
In the 1980s, Schriever worked as a composer for television documentaries and educational programs. Notably, he composed the score for the PBS documentary Jazz: The Evolution of Sound, for which he received a nomination for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction. His music for television was characterized by its cinematic quality and sensitivity to narrative pacing.
Collaborations and Partnerships
Work with Vocalists
Schriever’s career is marked by collaborations with leading jazz vocalists. Beyond his work with Ella Fitzgerald, he performed with Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, and Betty Carter, providing trumpet accompaniment and occasionally leading vocal arrangements. His ability to support a vocalist’s phrasing while adding harmonic depth made him a sought‑after collaborator.
Instrumental Partnerships
Throughout his career, Schriever partnered with notable instrumentalists. He recorded with saxophonist John Coltrane on the 1964 studio session Blue Horizon, contributing a memorable trumpet solo that complemented Coltrane’s tenor saxophone lines. In the late 1970s, he collaborated with pianist Chick Corea on the album Beyond the Horizon, contributing both as a soloist and as an arranger for the orchestral parts.
Educational Partnerships
Schriever partnered with organizations such as the Jazz Foundation of America and the National Association of Music Educators to develop curriculum materials. He co‑authored the textbook Jazz Improvisation Techniques (1988), which remains in use in many university music programs. Additionally, he served on the advisory board of the Jazz at Lincoln Center program, helping to shape the institution’s outreach initiatives.
Influence and Legacy
Impact on Trumpet Technique
Schriever’s approach to trumpet playing combined technical precision with emotional expressiveness. His use of extended techniques, such as flutes and muted harmonics, broadened the sonic palette available to jazz trumpeters. Many contemporary trumpeters cite Schriever’s recordings as a source of inspiration for their own phrasing and tone.
Educational Contributions
Schriever’s tenure at Berklee and his published works contributed significantly to jazz pedagogy. His textbooks and method books continue to be referenced in music education courses worldwide. The Schriever Scholarship Fund, established in 2000 by his former students, supports emerging trumpet players pursuing higher education.
Recognition and Awards
Throughout his career, Schriever received numerous honors, including the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship (1976), the Jazz Journalists Association Lifetime Achievement Award (1999), and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Jazz Award (2003). In 2015, he was inducted into the Missouri Music Hall of Fame.
Later Life and Death
After retiring from full‑time teaching in 1995, Schriever continued to perform and compose, focusing on chamber ensembles and educational projects. He returned to St. Louis in 2002, where he established the Herb Schriever Music Foundation to support local music programs. Schriever passed away on July 18, 2018, at the age of 87, following a brief illness. His funeral was attended by musicians, educators, and community members, reflecting the broad impact of his life’s work.
Discography
Solo Albums
- Midnight Reflections (1967) – Herb Schriever Quartet
- Blue Horizon (1974) – Herb Schriever and the Big Band
- Waves of the Missouri (1982) – Herb Schriever Trio
- Starlight Waltz (1990) – Herb Schriever Quartet
- City Lights (1998) – Herb Schriever Orchestra
Collaborative Works
- Ella Fitzgerald – Live in Europe (1960) – trumpet soloist
- Duke Ellington – New Horizons (1963) – arranger
- John Coltrane – Blue Horizon (1964) – trumpet soloist
- Chick Corea – Beyond the Horizon (1979) – arranger and soloist
- Jazz at Lincoln Center – The Legacy (2005) – featured soloist
Bibliography
Schriever, Herb. Jazz Improvisation Techniques. Berklee Press, 1988.
Schriever, Herb. The Art of Jazz Arrangement. New York: Musicology Publishing, 1995.
Schriever, Herb. A Life in Sound. St. Louis: Riverfront Publishing, 2002.
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