Two Blocks From the Edge

Michael Brecker | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 12, 1998)
• Original Release Date: May 12, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Grp Records
• ASIN: B000006ORR
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,063 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome playing by an awesome band!, August 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Two Blocks From the Edge (Audio CD)

I also feel compelled to give my 2c here. Joey Calderazzo may not have grown up with Latin parents, but hey, He Wrote The Song the other reviewer was talking about, El Nino!
And Michael Brecker gets pretty intensely loud here for a Latin song. So we're not really talking pure salsa anyway, but a jazz cross-over.
Michael Brecker has just about the best chops on tenor in the jazz world. And who do you think he would get to be his pianist, Someone With Great Chops!
The fact that this album has two songs written by Joey Calderazzo says it all. These are two of the best tunes on the album, IMHO.
Of course we would all love to hear Brecker with McCoy Tyner or Herbie Hancock on piano. Well, he Has played with both of them, and those are great recordings, too.
And do you now who Joey played with recently after leaving Michael Brecker? Brandford Marsalis, who I would say is a big enough name to get who he thinks is the best!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and Phenominal, November 20, 2000

By 

Paul Mundo "mundopau" (Martin, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Two Blocks From the Edge (Audio CD)

As a jazz trombonist, I have listened to a number of musicians to hone my craft. Of all the instrumentalists, Michael Brecker has been a favorite. With his use of modern harmonics and keen sense of melodic use, Michael sustains his level of musicianship with Two Blocks From The Edge. Brecker never plays with any slouches, either. Being at the high level in which he plays and the respect from colleagues and audiences alike, Michael Brecker can choose his bandmates. Pianist Joey Calderazzo is another such statesman on his instrument. Having studied with the same teacher, Richie Beirach, Calderazzo and I have been exposed to modern harmony through all forms of 20th Century music (Takemitsu, Hancock, Shorter, Woody Shaw, etc.). So, for the uneducated reviewer that dissed Joey, shame on you for your lack of historical background and unvalid comments. Kudos to Michael Brecker and band!

18 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Flawed by second tier piano playing, but Brecker is fine., March 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Two Blocks From the Edge (Audio CD)

Having heard Brecker with authentic piano giants like Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner and Chick Corea it is a disapointment to hear him with a piano player (Joey Calderazzo) who is not up the task of being his main foil as a soloist. I would rather hear Brecker in a Tenor, Bass and Drums trio than hear him with what sounds like a talented Berklee student on the piano. I would love to hear Brecker more with Hancock - the piece Scriabin on an early record was stunning.