the brecker brothers
Jazz instrumentalists Randy (trumpet) and Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone) have long been pioneers in the Jazz and pop music industry based on their solo work and collaborative efforts. Together, they have appeared on over 2,000 recordings as featured soloists. They have received numerous Grammy awards and even more nominations. The most recent award being a Grammy Award for Randy last year, with Michael earning a pair of Grammys each year from 1995 to 1997. In addition, Michael’s most recent album, Time Is of The Essence, was nominated for two more this year.Randy and Michael were born in Philadelphia to a loving family whose father introduced his sons to Jazz in their early childhood’s. As kids, Bobby Brecker took his sons to hear Miles, Monk, Adderley and Ellington, and many other Jazz greats. Both brothers decided on full-time careers in music by attending the University of Indiana their college studies, and then continuing on to the bright lights and studios of New York City for their education in life.One of Randy’s first gigs was with Clark Terry’s big band. One of his other first gigs in NYC also started his foray into the Jazz-rock world, as he was an instigator in the formation of the horn section for Blood, Sweat and Tears. In 1968, Randy recorded his first album as a leader, which also featured a 19-year-old Michael.
Michael followed his brother to New York and just a short time later they became founding members of a groundbreaking Jazz-rock band known as “Dreams”. The brothers also teamed up in a more traditional Jazz setting as the front line of Horace Silver’s quintet, and eventually as co-leaders of the now-renowned “Brecker Brothers”. The Brecker Brothers recorded six albums and were awarded seven Grammy nominations between 1975 and 1981. During that time, Randy and Mike opened the legendary club Seventh Avenue South, where late night jams led to the evolution of the band Steps Ahead, which Michael co-led and with whom he recorded six albums.
After a well deserved hiatus in 1982 after many years of working together, Randy recorded and toured extensively with Jaco Pastorius and soon met pianist Eliane Elias, spent several years touring the world. His Latin-Jazz release in 1998, “Into the Sun” won the Grammy award for best Latin Jazz Album. Randy has just recently signed with ESC records of Cologne, Germany and will release “Hangin’ in the City” in April 2001. This all-new original music is collection of funk filled, hip-hop and Jazz originals, which are destined to become “Brecker” standards.
Michael’s immediately recognized saxophone sound and style has in itself become an institution for legions of saxophonists around the world. His long list if amazing accomplishments assure that his time will forever be intertwined with the history of music. In a review of “Time is of the Essence”, Jazziz magazine stated, “You’ll find no better of stylistic evolution than Michael Brecker inarguably the most influential tenor stylist of the last 25 years … on “Time is of the Essence”, Brecker combines Heaven and Earth.”