i just stumble on it on youtube...
It is a begininng for me ...
I will go for it....
The very best of Michael Brecker ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URlrJrNjeTs&list=OLAK5uy_l6QIZc7UFY0kTkD5jcgKUWddtE6HJjE7s
Jazz for aficionados
Jazz for aficionados
I'm going to review records in my collection, and you'll be able to decide if they're worthy of your collection. These records are what I consider "must haves" for any jazz aficionado, and would be found in their collections. I wont review any record that's not on CD, nor will I review any record if the CD is markedly inferior. Fortunately, I only found 1 case where the CD was markedly inferior to the record.
Our first album is "Moanin" by Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers. We have Lee Morgan , trumpet; Benney Golson, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie merrit, bass; Art Blakey, drums.
The title tune "Moanin" is by Bobby Timmons, it conveys the emotion of the title like no other tune I've ever heard, even better than any words could ever convey. This music pictures a person whose down to his last nickel, and all he can do is "moan".
"Along Came Betty" is a tune by Benny Golson, it reminds me of a Betty I once knew. She was gorgeous with a jazzy personality, and she moved smooth and easy, just like this tune. Somebody find me a time machine! Maybe you knew a Betty.
While the rest of the music is just fine, those are my favorite tunes. Why don't you share your, "must have" jazz albums with us.
Enjoy the music.
I'm going to review records in my collection, and you'll be able to decide if they're worthy of your collection. These records are what I consider "must haves" for any jazz aficionado, and would be found in their collections. I wont review any record that's not on CD, nor will I review any record if the CD is markedly inferior. Fortunately, I only found 1 case where the CD was markedly inferior to the record.
Our first album is "Moanin" by Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers. We have Lee Morgan , trumpet; Benney Golson, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie merrit, bass; Art Blakey, drums.
The title tune "Moanin" is by Bobby Timmons, it conveys the emotion of the title like no other tune I've ever heard, even better than any words could ever convey. This music pictures a person whose down to his last nickel, and all he can do is "moan".
"Along Came Betty" is a tune by Benny Golson, it reminds me of a Betty I once knew. She was gorgeous with a jazzy personality, and she moved smooth and easy, just like this tune. Somebody find me a time machine! Maybe you knew a Betty.
While the rest of the music is just fine, those are my favorite tunes. Why don't you share your, "must have" jazz albums with us.
Enjoy the music.
30,874 responses Add your response
I try to stay away from "best of" and "compilation" albums while using Spotify because I want to know the source of each song. What was the original album it was on, what year was the album released and other details. I try to keep my playlists chronological so I can follow the artists career trajectory and, subsequently, his or her progression and changes in style/substance over the years. Here are a few Michael Brecker live recording dates. 1987 Live at Fabrik, Hamburg, 1987 - Album by Michael Brecker | Spotify 1995 Live in Helsinki 1995 - Album by Michael Brecker | Spotify 2001
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You are right for sure and me too i prefer original albums... But i did not know Brecker and you know already him , and i stumbled on it on youtube... I like the idea to cover some instances from many albums in a first move... 😊 Anyway when i love a musician i grab even some compilations... I had some with my Chet Baker collection for example... 😁 Brecker brothers seems very original musicians ... I will grab more ....
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Do you mean there is a difference in style when Michael Brecker play alone and when he play with his brother ?
I stumble on a "fusion" song i did not like much instead of jazz did you mean this ?
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I normally wouldn’t post an algorithm suggestion from you tube but this I had to share with you good folks. This is: THE GREAT VOCAL JAZZ LOUNGE, with Denise King, Silvia Donati, Claudia Zannoni and Patricia De Assis. The vocals, musicianship and sound quality of this video is killer. There’s jazz and Latin jazz standards with even some Samba jazz not to be confused with Bossa Nova at the end which surprised me. Please do take the time and listen to this entire project. Thank you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egnc_VfJ3Lc
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A few thoughts about Michael Brecker. First, the notion that to possess supreme technical prowess as an instrumentalist necessarily means that the player does not bring enough emotional content to the music is false. Likewise, the notion that players who don’t possess this level of technical mastery, or who choose to not flaunt it, are necessarily lesser musicians is also false. However, it is true that technical prowess gives a player options and possibilities that are not available to a player with limited technical skill. But, as they say, the proof is in the pudding. Sometimes all it takes is one note to tell the whole story. Ask saxophone players who was probably the greatest saxophone player ever, from the standpoint of technical prowess, in any genre, and Michael Brecker will get the most votes….by a long shot. Incredible command of the instrument and all its possibilities. If may seem heretical, but yes, even more so than Coltrane. But, this obviously doesn’t tell the whole story. As great as Brecker was he was sometimes criticized by Jazz diehards (including Jazz players) for letting too much of his Pop/Fusion experience color his straight ahead Jazz playing. I think this was a valid criticism particularly in his early career. This stylistic “color” became less and less of a presence as he got older and developed a stronger and stronger individualistic straight-ahead Jazz style. The Brecker Brothers band albums were reflective of the trend in the overall music scene toward Fusion which began in the ‘70s and I agree with @curiousjim that some of the material was a little too “urban-hip” for my tastes. This trend in music actually had little to do with the Jazz scene, which as sadly losing a lot of steam during the same period. The brothers and their band brought a Jazz sensibility and complexity to what was essentially pop/rock/funk material. My favorite Brecker Bros. record was their very first. One which included Dave Sanborn. Michael and Randy Brecker were two of the busiest session players ever. As horn players probably the busiest on their respective instruments. Along with their “more serious” work as Jazz players in their and others’ projects they played on countless Pop records as soloists. They could do it all. And they made a great deal of money doing so. To get an idea of just how busy Michael was, check out this discography. Note that the list that the link opens to is in alphabetical order and the first page is only recordings “A-B”. Scroll to the top to open the subsequent pages. Astounding! http://www.michaelbreckerliverecordings.com/CompletediscographyA-B.html
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Another favorite. May seem a little “lite” on first listen, but absolutely gorgeous saxophone playing. It was also one of Michael’s favorites: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0hWpfLjtwxRrrhkMSbsZUEyrXwDz9HRd&si=kXeHAV_k1qJRtgPd |
Thanks a lot @frogman I appreciate very much your musical erudition and necessary context knowledge... It help us a lot... Wow almost 900 albums...many where is a side musician but... I spot already only 32 in my research but all as main player ...
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The 70s decade was the worst by far when it concerned jazz music/artists. Michael Brecker was 21 in 1970 so I can see how people can look back on his first 10 years of preforming as pretty crappy. Especially jazz people (listeners and artists). In contrast, even though the 80s was still a bad decade for jazz as a whole the jazz purists of old and the upcoming artists like the Marsalis brothers and Jeff "Tain" Watts, among many, were slowly getting back to the roots of swing and blues instead of funk and disco. Even the great Sonny Rollins tried infusing "disco influenced grooves" into his 70s albums and they were pretty bad. Jeff "Tain" Watts never released a "cheesy" album. The same can be said of the Marsalis brothers. Those 3 artists have some really great recordings with each other and with others. Look at this 1982 example of how the Marsalis brothers "made their bones" Jeff "Tain" Watts'1991 debut album, Megawatts, a trio, is one of my favorite trio sessions. Megawatts 1991 featuring "Tain" with bassist Charles Fambrough and pianist Kenny Kirkland. Fambrough also played bass on the Art Blakey session I used as an example for the Marsalis brothers. This IMO, is what a straight ahead jazz trio that swings as a whole along with excellent comping and soloing sound like. Branford Marsalis 1986 album Royal Garden Blues Branford Marsalis - Royal Garden Blues - YouTube Wynton Marsalis 1983 album Think of One An outstanding Jeff "Tain" Watts album with Wynton and Branford Marsalis, as well as altoist Kenny Garrett contributing. Watts composed "The Impaler" which he also played in a trio setting on his Megawatts album. Jeff "Tain" Watts - The Impaler - YouTube Trio version Michael Brecker has a great rendition of Watts' "The Impaler" on his 1998 album Two Blocks from The Edge but I cannot find it on You Tube but I found Brecker playing "The Impaler" with none other than John McLaughlin. Michael Brecker with John McLaughlin - One Night in Monte Carlo - The Impaler - YouTube One last addition (I could not resist!), Branford and Wynton Marsalis with Art Blakey playing live in 1981 at 7th Ave South, a jazz club owned by Michael and Randy Brecker. @frogman Did you ever hang out at 7th Ave South?
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On the thirty two albums of Zorn it seems i cannot love more than 4 or 5 ... The rest may be interesting but not enough for me to keep them in my love list... The Album with Jamie Saft throw me toward him , and i discovered few albums of Saft as true gems... ( 6 albums) I prefer classical jazz, sometimes i venture out of it but it is way more difficult for me to fall in love then ... Zorn is really interesting... But interesting is not falling in love... After the 6 albums of Saft i love , i now explore Brecker who really is a sax master ... Evident at first listening ... I will not fall in love with many Brecker albums in fusion or piop for sure... But his jazz albums will probably hit me at the heart it seems already with 2 listenings...
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I would not ,at my age, force myself to listen to music I don't like. In the past I have listened to music til I got it. Not anymore. When I said I liked Zorn, I only had 10 or so recordings I have collected over the years on CD. They have now released everything he has put out. Over 200 records. I doubt I love everything he has done, especially with him being so adventurous. Good on y'all for giving him a chance. My brother wants me to go with him to see Jr. Brown. I'm not going. I 've seen him and for some reason he wears on me. It Happens. |
Personally, I wouldn’t call the first ten years of M Brecker’s output “crappy”. It’s a matter of the style of the music which we may or may not like. The playing however was always on a high level. It is true that most of his output during the 70’s was in a rock/funk vein and some of it I don’t like, but some of it I do like. One of the brothers’ earliest higher profile projects was as members of the band “Dreams”. A very influential band that predated “Blood Sweat and Tears” as one of the very first Rock bands to use a horn section and to incorporate elements of Jazz. The horn section, unlike the more popular band “Chicago” was comprised of players that could really play and improvise well. 1972 (classic, for Breckerfiles): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lt_4E4HyOCJF73AOuJ_rGREDww_W3tWjo&si=orKNqtsuKk5VgJgS What’s not to like 😊?: https://youtu.be/jhDl4IDfYOg?si=zq3UzkjCVxshLwAC pjw, I went to Seventh Ave. South many times and heard the Breckers and others there. Great place!
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I had a feeling you hung out there. Besides the Breckers who else did you see there? I will check out the Dreams band. I like Blood Sweat and Tears and really like Chicago. Terry Kath was such a gifted musician. Not going to post any of their songs on a jazz thread though... I listened to these 3 Michael Brecker albums in their entirety while on the road last night. All 3 albums are really good. Brecker's improvisations on the tenor are superlative. Michael Brecker - Itsbynne Reel - Don't Try This At Home (1988) - YouTube Brecker plays the EWI on tracks 1, 4 and 5, Don't Try This at Home Two Blocks from the Edge 別冊MMJazz ＃217 Two Blocks from the Edge(Michael Brecker) 都会の香りのカッコよさ！！映画のシーンの様 - YouTube Tales from the Hudson
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@frogman Thanks. |
One thing appear to me and i just begun to listen to Brecker... His sax mastery musical control is good to the point of being embarassing or shaming for others .... I never hear so much surprizing variations with so much fluidity from any other sax player i listened too... Thanks frogman... This does not means i cannot appreciate other musical style gesture of Igor Buttman or Wayne Shorter or Sonny Rollins etc...Musical gesture style is not linearly related to virtuoso control levels , it is constrained by them for sure, but music has a life of its own ...It is the reason why there is no absolutely better musician over all of them in jazz ... Too much possible expressive gestures repertory learned in so many musicians different body and personal story .... There is also another point, nevermind the genius of any musician, the way his sideman work with him and underline his phrasing and sustain it and were inspired in their own playing make an album session great... It is evident with Miles Davis "kind of blue" which is not the best jazz album ever, there is no best ever, but in this album the SYNERGY between the players parts is astoundingly good... Then it is the same conditions for any musician in jazz so great it is, he will need to play and inspire others... Listen to my favorite Pat Martino album... "Formidable"... Here too the synergy is so much good that for me it is equal to "kind of blue"... Martino drive the other players to their best as Miles did ...By the way as " kind of blue" " formidable" album are not necessarily the best albums to decipher the specific artistry and virtuosity of Miles or Martino but it is great album to look for and understand why and how they inspire other musicians to play at their top... The reason is simple : the geniuses as Miles and Martino serve the other musicians and dont use them as replaceable servant but inspire them to go at their maximum level ... We feel it ...
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Plus 1 @mahgister Get a copy of the book "Clawing at the Limits of Cool". It details the synergy between the contrasting phrasing and improvisations of Miles and Coltrane and how they both inspired each other. Also details "the rhythm section" as they were named on an album by Art Pepper. Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section which is considered a "core album" for jazz aficionados. Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section - Wikipedia Miles thought that: Joe Chambers was as good on the bass as Charles Mingus and Oscar Pettiford... Philly Joe Jones was a junkie drummer but I liked the way he played... Red Garland use of block chords was perfect for what I wanted... Art Pepper (Usa, 1957) - Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section - YouTube 1 If I Were A Bell by Miles Davis from ’Relaxin’ With The Miles Davis Quintet’ - YouTube Miles Davis Cookin (Full Album) - YouTube Steamin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet - MIles Davis Quintet - (Full 1989 Reissue) - YouTube Workin’ With The Miles Davis Quintet - Miles Davis Quintet - (Full Album) - YouTube
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Thanks for the reply @frogman While I’m not a fan of YouTube’s sound quality and commercials, it’s absolutely amazing how much is out there! |
All great artists. A young Wynton, Woody Shaw and Joe Henderson stand out. Did you ever catch Steps Ahead? Btw I really like Branford Marsalis' Tenor playing. Not quite a virtuoso as Brecker but he was great at the post bop straight ahead jazz idiom. Have you heard his take on A Love Supreme? This is a favorite blu ray video of mine. A Love Supreme, Pt. 1: Acknowledgement - YouTube
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Pat Martino and Michael Brecker had something in common in their own personal world.. I dont know how to say it or describe it... They play going on with their own effortless FLUID "pulse" leading in their wake the others musicians but without letting them aside or down... A feat some other geniuses playing more lonely lost in their world did not do so well ... Thats my impression...I discovered these 2 musicians i did not know with frogman recommendation... They are insanely good technically and musical...
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This Michael Brecker album will make your candle supper at the dessert moment with a digestive liquor an amazing hour... It is not the most original Brecker album probably, just classic jazz, but this musician finger/brain gestures flow as calming water on stressed feet...Brecker play more effortlessly than any other sax player i ever listened to, this is why HE NEVER DID TOO MUCH FOR MAKING AN IMPRESSION as many others do but he manage to stay creative and surprizing in his phrases without overdoing anything ... Charlie Haden play with Brecker : american dreams... Trumpet is no more my favorite Jazz instrument with piano... Sax enter my heart not only my brain or body now... Brecker is without rival exactly as frogman said it was... It is unbelievable if we dont listen to him because there is very great sax players for me already... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1k1dKriNws&list=PLvxWibFr0wiIAsj0hIMVXe51d_PqcmOZ6
I am torn between American dreams and "cityscapes" With Ogerman...😊 Absolute mastery of Brecker here... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2m7_06jbXo&list=PL0hWpfLjtwxRrrhkMSbsZUEyrXwDz9HRd We must buy the two albums...listen on youtube before doing so, especially cityscape which is not jazz style i will buy usually but Brecker sound divine here... |
For anyone interested in learning about Michael Brecker the man and what he went through at the end of his life: https://lovehopestrength.org/susan-brecker-continues-jazz-musician-husbands-legacy-of-help/ |
Thanks for the link frogman
I will add this as complement.. Michael Brecker: A Quiet Genius of Immense Importancehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUFdzxcZhwg and also this : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6UsTFQMCPA
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Remember the non profit RIF (reading is fundamental) Organization. I remember the commercials on USA TV 50 years ago when I was 10. The organizations mission was that all children should be able to read. 50 years later Home | RIF.org Watching documentaries and music videos is ok but if you really want to learn about a particular person, place or thing reading is the best way. Read reviews first to make sure the author has done proper research using primary sources. Schools still teach our children to read and write but at home this is not encouraged by the majority of households. By 10 years old most kids have a PC, smart phone and a TV in their bedrooms. I know a lot of adults that simply refuse to read. I will continue with my book recommendations from time to time in the hope that maybe one of you will read at least one book about your favorite jazz artists. Rant over. Re; Michael Brecker Just listened to his Pilgrimage album. It truly is a masterpiece. I just ordered this and I cant wait to "dive in" |
To Ravi Coltrane, the son of jazz legend John Coltrane, Brecker's ability to improvise effectively in a variety of styles had a lot to do with timing. "Michael came out during a time when there were all these strands of music happening," Coltrane says. "Funk, rock and soul music — he found a way to make his sound work within all those genres." Coltrane knew Brecker as a friend, as well as a major influence. "I began studying the saxophone in the '80s, and there were a few modern-day saxophone players that most people focused on," Coltrane says. "For those followers of Michael, it demanded another caliber of focus and study." |
@frogman and all, Does anyone know what happened to the Documentary? I for one would be interested in seeing it. |
Exploring the Grolnick playings with Brecker i discovered Bob Mintzer another sax master playing with Brecker at least in one album ...Mintzer cannot rival brecker for sure, i did not heard someone who can , but he recorded many big band album... What frogman think about him and his duet with Brecker ? Too much good music to discover the same week for me.... it is way better to buy 10,000 bucks of music than a new dac.... especially if the one you own is already good as in my case... My two cents for a lost audiophile in the jazz thread.. ... 😊 |