Michael Brecker RIP

Just learned one of the major tenor sax players Michael Brecker has died. Michael had the enviable record of being in demand as that tenor player on other peoples' records, resulting in him being on numberless recordings. He was part of the early NYC jazz rock fusion movement mid 60's, formed Dreams with brother Randy, Billy Cobham and John Abercrombie at the end of the 60's, appearedin several Billy Cobham bands and recordings mid 70's, was part of Zappa's Mothers New York recording, formed the Brecker Brothers with Randy (had a singles hit with East River), found an excellent foil with Jaco Pastorius on Joni Mitchell's Shadow & Lights album (that live version of Dry Cleaner From Des Moines is my all time jazz rock track), co-founder of Steps (who because of legal pressure from the N Carolinan Steps became Steps Ahead ), started to recorded under his own name in the mid 80's and produced a formidable catalogue of jazz rock and more recently straighter jazz recordings. He will be missed greatly.

Saxophonist Michael Brecker died today at age 57 in New York City from leukemia. Michael Brecker has probably played and sessioned with just about all of the major fusion and other musicians since the late 60s. He is considered one of the finest saxophone players in music today. This is a very very sad loss.
    
Michael Brecker Dead at 57

Edited by dwill123 - January 13 2007 at 21:54

57? Man, that's way too young...

Sad.. 

Michael Brecker and Alice Coltrane, sad loss for Jazz.

Don't grieve for them, they've become one with their music.

Very sad news. He was a great saxophonist. I saw him with his band at the Montreal Jazz Festival, something like 4 years ago if I remember correctly. It was a great show to attend. It's pretty young to die.