David Schnitter was an excellent hard-bop tenor saxophonist, most of whom were influenced by Dexter Gordon. His rise in jazz in the 1970s predated the “young Lions”, but he has kept a low profile since then. Schnitter switched from clarinet to tenor at the age of 15. After playing locally, he moved to New York and gigged with Ted Dunbar. He was then a member Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers between 1974-1979. From 1979-1981, he worked with Freddie Hubbard and was associated with Charles Earland and Groove Holmes. David Schnitter was a fine singer on many records with Blakey, and as a leader of Muse between 1976-1981. However, not much has been heard from him since. Allmusic
