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The Very Best Of...

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Randy and Michael Brecker are jazz royalty, two of the most respected and most honored instrumentalists of the last three decades. Philly born and bred, their father was an attorney who also played piano. As Randy reminisced to me three years ago, "He had a piano he played as soon as he got home from work, and he had jam sessions. A lot of great musicians came over on weekends and played."

Randy himself became a teenaged local legend, playing in all kinds of settings, backing up American Bandstand teen idols and playing in jazz combos and R&B bands. He was an original member of Blood, Sweat & Tears in the late `60s and later joined his younger brother Michael in the jazz-rock horn band, Dreams.

When record mogul Clive Davis formed Arista Records in the mid `70s, the Brecker Brothers were among his first signings. Their first album quickly established them in the top tier of the funk/disco/jazz fusion market. Their single, "Sneakin' Up Behind You" placed them on the radio and on the pop charts in 1975, and Randy's frenetic rave up, "Some Skunk Funk," became a favorite among young jazz rockers.

The new compilation, Sneaking Up Behind You: The Very Best of The Brecker Brothers, kicks off with those two tunes, then winds through a brief history of the band, in the process stirring up fond memories of the latter days of the attempted jazz/rock marriage. It's an exhilarating trip, at times dated (cheesy clavinets and disco high-hat patterns) but always fiery and musically impressive. On that first album, Randy's trumpet and Michael's tenor sax were augmented in the front line by future superstar David Sanborn's distinctive alto saxophonics. Other musicians passing through the band included bassists Will Lee and Marcus Miller, drummers Harvey Mason, Lenny White and Terry Bozzio, and keysmen George Duke and Don Grolnick.

The writing was strong, the soloing incredible (Michael in particular showing the facility for which he would be come renown), the funk relentless. These guys followed in the steps of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Weather Report to lead fusion's second wave.

Originally published in Port Folio Weekly, 8/8/06.
Copyright 2006 Port Folio Weekly/Jim Newsom. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.

I have been so fortunate to have been turned onto Jazz while in high school during the 70's. It was the time when so called fusion and jazz rock took the world by storm. It was also during a time when you can get into bars without being id'd and when the drinking age in NYC was 18. The jazz club scene was hot and the cover to get into the jazz clubs in the village were almost all free. I was so lucky to be turned onto the Breckers back then because they owned a club called "Seventh Avenue South" where they booked jazz and jazz fusion bands. Obviously the Breckers themselves played their frequently. This was a club where about 8 bandmembers where tightly squeezed together on a stage that was level with the floor! I saw the Breckers with Will Lee, Steve Gadd, Hiram Bullock or Steve Kahn, Paul Shafer on keyboards. They cooked. Their solos were out of this world! I was so saddened to hear about Michael. What a loss of a great legend. I recommend all of their recordings. The interplay between both brothers was incomparable and cant be duplicated.

I had heard the Brecker brothers on other CD's. This album is a joy to listen too. I am going to get there other CD's.

I had the album,Now the CD,There will never be a group like the B Brothers
I bought this becouse of the passin of Michael Brecker.
Buy this Cd,It Is The Bomb