Brecker CD

[fusionjazzmadman]

I would have some suggestions of a good cd with Michael Brecker, have you got any favorit albums that you could reccomend?

[Chris-Sax]

All of Breckers c.d's are great!!!

I would recomend "Two blocks from the edge", it shows off Breckers fantastic technique, with tracks such as "Delta city blues" (which i have played for my 2nd year recital). Other albums are;

* Michael Brecker
* Dont try this at home
* Time is of the essence
* Tales from the hudson
* Balled book

Try and get a hold of some of his early work with the "Brecker brothers band" & "Steps Ahead"!!! One of the best living sax players im the world!!

Chris 8)

[gary]

I have not been a big Brecker fan. I wouldn't, however, say that he's anything less than a phenominal player, chopwise. The one album that made me give him another close listen is "Time is of the Essence".

I was not moved by his ballad album, by the way. Too much noodling for me.

[Frank D]

Judging from your screen name, you might want to check out the more recent Brecker Brothers CDs, like Return of the Brecker Brothers and Out of the Loop. Go to Amazon.com and search for Brecker Brothers. You can hear song samples for most of the CDs and find what pleases you.

[Vader]

If you like more contemporary stuff, get and Brecker Brothers stuff. If you want a taste of the older Brecker brothers, but aren't sure what to get, get the Green(there's one with a red cover as well) Novus complilation CD. If you want to hear newer stuff. get the Later Brecker Brothers stuff(as someone previously posted).
There's also the Step's Ahead recordings. There are 4 of them. There's a self titled(more acoustic), Modern times, Magnetic(a true fusion classic), and a live one.
Have fun. If you want more, I can recommend recordings for hours. It's fun to spend someone else's money. :)

[Mike Ruhl]

I was not moved by his ballad album, by the way. Too much noodling for me.My sentiments exactly.

[tomsch]

I have two live Steps Ahead CDs, both of which are great. Paradox and Smokin' the Pit are the titles.

[Vader]

Man, those are unbelievable. Those are actually by Steps, which is the precurser to Steps Ahead(but you most likely already knew that).
Do you have the studio album(Step by Step) by that same band?
If you have the others, i'm betting you have this one, but I figured i'd mention it just in case.

[tomsch]

Ooops! Yes it it Steps not Steps Ahead, which was later. I don't have Step-by-step. I'll have to go find that one right away!

[Vader]

You won't be disappointed. In fact, i'm going to listen to it when I get home today.
Those recording used to be really rare. Now, I see them in stores a lot more. Same thing with Cityscape.

[Smokin' Joe]

There are two great albums Blue Montreaux I and II. They released a CD which is a compilation of both albums. Great Brecker stuff. Check out the tune "I'm Sorry"...IMO by far the most beautiful(and burning) sax solo tune ever recorded. Great song, lots of emotion coming out of that horn.

[Vader]

Yeah man. There's some ripping solo's on those recordings. I have a couple of transcriptions from those shows.

[rleidle]

The "best" Brecker recording IMO is Chick Corea's Three Quartets. No other recording matches the sheer mastery on this Album. The music is so powerful and inspiring on the four "Quartet" tracks (The other songs are nice, but not in the same vein).

Other great albums with brecker: Pat Metheny - 80/81 (listen for Every Day, I Thank You), Bob Mintzer - Twin Tenors, John Abercrombie - Night, and of course all the Steps Ahead albums are great.

[pnuttbutta]

I agree with rleidle. Three Quartets is pretty intense. The CD includes a bonus track - Parker's "Confirmation" - just Mike and Chick - Chick on drums!! - Someone asked Brecker about that in his '93 lecture at UNT - straight from the horse's mouth. Apparently, htey had been recorded all day in Chick's studio - Eddie Gomez (bass) & Steve Gadd (drums) had left for the night and Mike & Chick were just foolin' around while the tape was rolling. It's interesting!
Also, check out the Claus Ogerman album "Cityscape." Brecker playing with a rhythm section and an orchestra. Half of it may lull you to sleep (long sections w/o Brecker, but his playing is something else).

[michaelbaird]

Two Blocks from the Edge! Anything he does is good. If you don't like it, it is because you don't understand it. Keep listening to it! Im glad the Blue Montreux albums are on CD now. I'll have to pick them up. "I'm Sorry" has been one of my favorite Brecker tunes for years. I first heard it when I was 20. It bought the album as a "cut out" for about $2.