Mention Michael Brecker's name and most will remember him in conjuntion with his 70's (and 90's) jazz/funk combo - "The Brecker Brothers" - formed with his brother, trumpeter Randy. But Michael Brecker also toured and recorded with a wide range of artists including Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Chet Baker, George Benson, Quincy Jones, Charles Mingus, Joni Mitchell, Jaco Pastorius, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra, James Taylor, Yoko Ono, Bruce Springsteen, Steely Dan, Horace Silver, Pat Metheny, Roy Hargrove, Elvin Jones and Frank Zappa. Brecker won 11 Grammies and appeared on over 400 recordings. His style on the tenor saxophone has been widely copied by a whole generation of sax players. On Saturday, Jan. 13th, 2007, Michael Brecker died of Leukemia brought about by MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome - a cancer in which the bone marrow stops producing enough healthy blood cells). He was 57.
Coming from a musical family in Philadelphia, the Brecker Brothers were influenced by their father who took them to concerts by greats like Mingus, Monk, Miles and Duke. Later Michael - who began on clarinet and alto sax - was inspired by hearing Coltrane to pick up the tenor. He and his brother briefly attended Indiana U. before heading to NYC to enter the music arena. In 1970, Michael founded the highly influential fusion group "Dreams" - one of the first jazz/rock fusion groups to use horns. Besides forming the incredibly succesful Brecker Brothers combo, Michael and Randy also operated a popular downtown Manhattan jazz club - Seventh Avenue South. Michael later formed another highly succsesful fusion group called "Steps Ahead" that toured and recorded for many years.
Because he backed so many pop musicians through his early career, Brecker was perhaps not given enough credit for his impressive talents. That all changed in 1987 when his self titled solo debut won "Record of the Year" from both Downbeat and Jazziz Magazines. Throughout the remainder of his life Brecker played in various settings ranging from pop to highly sophisticated jazz arrangements with the cream of the jazz world. He reportedly finished a final recording just two weeks before his death the release of which will no doubt be highly anticipated by his many fans.
For more info on Michael's life
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