Michael Brecker

About

It’s remarkable that Michael Brecker waited until 1987 to make his debut as a leader. His historic sideman appearances with the likes of Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, Kenny Wheeler, and Hal Galper had already made Brecker a legend in the jazz world. That’s to say nothing of his in-studio turns with such legends as Paul Simon (“Still Crazy After All These Years”), Carly Simon (“You Belong to Me”), Billy Joel (“Tell Her About It”), Bruce Springsteen (“Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out”), and countless other. During that same time, The Brecker Brother, Michael’s co-led band with trumpeter and fellow session ace Randy Brecker, had amassed a following of its own. But the release of <i>Michael Brecker</i> in 1987 put the younger Brecker brother’s name on the marquee, right where it belonged. More than his follow-up efforts <i>Don’t Try This at Home</i> and <i>Now You See It… (Now You Don’t)</i>, Brecker’s self-titled debut highlights a consistent band sound, with unchanging personnel. It’s largely an acoustic jazz album, although the great Kenny Kirkland doubles on keyboard, and Brecker introduces the curious tones of the EWI (electronic wind instrument) on “Syzygy” and “Original Ray.” .

via Apple Music

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