Lecture 23: Jazz Today

Michael Brecker (1949 2007)

Born March 29, 1949 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Brecker was a saxophonist, EWI player and composer
He is acknowledged as a quiet, gentle musician widely regarded as the most
influential tenor saxophonist since John Coltrane
He won 13 Grammys as both performer and composer

The Ultimate Sideman

Brecker first made his mark at age 21 as a member of the jazz-rock band
Dreams, a band that included his older brother Randy, trombonist Barry
Rogers, drummer Billy Cobham, Jeff Kent and Doug Lubahn
After Dreams, he worked with Horace Silver and then Billy Cobham before
once again teaming up with his brother Randy to form the Brecker Brothers
Band
At the same time, Brecker put his stamp on numerous pop and rock recordings
as a soloist
Solo Career
After a stint co-leading the all-star group Steps Ahead with Mike Mainieri,
Brecker finally recorded a solo album in 1987
That eponymously titled debut album marked his return to a more traditional
jazz setting
His solo debut highlighted his compositional talents and featured the Akai
EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument)
He continued to record albums as a leader throughout the 1990s and 2000s,
winning multiple Grammy Awards
His solo and group tours consistently sold out top jazz venues in major cities
worldwide
Final Years
In 2005, Brecker was diagnosed with the blood disorder myelodysplastic
syndrome (MDS)
Despite a widely-publicized worldwide search, Brecker was unable to find a
matching stem cell donor
In late 2005, he was the recipient of an experimental partial matching stem
cell transplant
As of late 2006 he was recovering, but it proved not to be a cure for him
Brecker made his final public performance on June 23rd 2006, playing with
Herbie Hancock at Carnegie Hall
On January 13, 2007, Michael Brecker died from complications of leukemia
in New York City

Itsbynne Reel

Recorded in 1988 in New York City

Personnel
Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone & Akai EWI)
Mike Stern (guitar)
Don Grolnick (piano)
Charlie Haden (acoustic bass)
Jeff Andrews (fretless electric bass)
Jack DeJohnette (drums)
Mark OConnor (violin)

Original Rays
Recorded in 1987 in New York City
Personnel
Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone & EWI)
Pat Metheny (guitar)
Kenny Kirkland (keyboards)
Charlie Haden (bass)
Jack DeJohnette (drums)

Pat Metheny (b. 1954)

Born Patrick Bruce Metheny on August 12, 1954 in Lees Summit, Missouri
One of the most successful and critically acclaimed jazz musicians to come to
prominence in the 1970s and 1980s
He is the leader of the Pat Metheny Group and is also involved in duets, solo
works, and other side projects
His style incorporates elements of progressive and contemporary jazz, post-Bop,
jazz-rock fusion, and folk-jazz

Career
Metheny came onto the jazz scene in 1975 when he joined vibraphonist Gary
Burtons band
The Pat Metheny Group is a jazz band founded in 1977 featuring the writing
duo of Pat Metheny and pianist Lyle Mays
In the early days the band played in a wide range of styles from folk to rock to
experimental
Metheny was also one of the first jazz guitarists to make heavy use of the
Roland GR300 Guitar Synthesizer
Jaco

Recorded in 1977
Personnel

Pat Metheny (guitar)

Lyle Mays (keyboards)
Mark Egan (bass)
Dan Gottlieb (drums)

Yellowjackets

The Yellowjackets are an American jazz fusion quartet

The original group, called The Robben Ford Group, was formed in 1977, and
consisted of Robben Ford, Russell Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip and Ricky Lawson
Ford had originally assembled the group to record Inside Story, but signed to a
separate record contract, ended up listed as a guest artist

Personnel Changes
Founded as an R&B-oriented band that starred guitarist Robben Ford, the
group took a giant step forward after Fords departure
Alto saxophonist Marc Russo took Fords place
Ricky Lawson left in 1986 to tour with Lionel Richie
With original members Russell Ferrante on keyboards and electric bassist
Jimmy Haslip, in addition to drummer William Kennedy, the band found its
own R&B-ish sound
In the 1990s, Russo chose to go out on his own, and his replacement, Bob
Mintzer (on tenor and bass clarinet), added more jazz credibility to the
groups music
Kennedy left in the late 1990s, initially replaced by Peter Erskine, but
eventually replaced by Marcus Baylor
Statue of Liberty
Recorded in 1997
Personnel
Bob Mintzer (bass clarinet)
Russell Ferrane (piano)
Jimmy Haslip (electric bass)
William Kennedy (drums)
Tortoise and the Hare
Recorded live at The Mint in Los Angeles in 2001
Personnel
Bob Mintzer (tenor saxophone)
Russell Ferrante (piano)
Jimmy Haslip (electric bass)
Marcus Baylor (drums)

Additional Audio Clips

Bob Berg: Friday Night at the Cadillac Club
Michael Brecker: Naima

Sources
History and Tradition of Jazz by Thomas E. Larson
Jazz for Dummies by Dirk Sutro
Jazz a film by Ken Burns
http://en.wikipedia.org

Discography
1. Delta City Blues by Michael Brecker
from the album Two Blocks from the Edge
Impulse! IMPD-260
2. Itsbynne Reel by Michael Brecker
from the album Dont Try This at Home
Impulse! MCAD 42229
3. Original Rays by Michael Brecker
from the album Michael Brecker
Impulse! MCAD-5980
4. Jaco by the Pat Metheny Group
from the album Pat Metheny Group
ECM Records
5. Statue of Liberty by the Yellowjackets
from the album Blue Hats
Warner Brothers Records 9 46333-2
6. Tortoise and the Hare by the Yellowjackets
from the album Mint Jam
Yellowjackets Enterprises YJ001
7. Friday Night at the Cadillac Club by Bob Berg
from the album Short Stories
Denon 33CY-1768
8. Naima by Michael Brecker
from the album Directions in Music
Verve 314 589 654-2