BRECKER BROTHERS - Live And Unreleased
Leopard D77072
Randy Brecker (trumpet and vocals); Michael Brecker (tenor sax); Mark Gray (keyboards); Barry Finnerty (guitar); Neil Jason (bass and vocals); Richie Morales (drums)
Recorded Onkel Po’s Carnegie Hall, Hamburg, Germany 2 July 1980
Mr and Mrs Brecker must have had some amazing musical genes. To have one child who is a virtuoso musician is quite an achievement, but to have two in the form of trumpeter Randy Brecker and the late tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker is something else. Between them, these brothers have played with a Who’s Who of jazz artists including, George Benson, Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock, Chet Baker, Gil Evans, Dave Brubeck, Horace Silver, Tony Williams and Billy Cobham, to name but a few. That’s not to mention the host of pop and rock artists who called upon their services, from Frank Sinatra to Steely Dan.
As well as being top-tier session musicians, the Brecker Brothers also formed some of the tightest, funkiest jazz-funk fusion bands on the planet, as demonstrated on this album. Recorded during a summer European tour in 1980 and recorded at the delightfully named Onkle Po’s Carnegie Hall in Germany, this 2-CD set captures the energy, enthusiasm and virtuosity of band that is on fire. Offering up support are guitarist Barry Finnerty (this was a golden period for Finnerty – the previous year he had played on the Crusader’s hit album Street Life, and not long after this tour, he would join Miles Davis in the studio for the comeback album The Man With The Horn); (the late) keyboardist Mark Gray; bassist Neil Jason and drummer Richie Morales.
In these days when many record companies seem to be run by accountants, it’s heartening to see that there has been no skimping on the packaging. The album comes in a smart-looking Digipak which folds out to reveal two discs with picture labels and several photos of band members. There are also liner notes from Randy Brecker on the back, who recalls the band’s days on the road, as well as a 16-page booklet that has lots of photos of the band taken during this period, and very informative liner notes from music writer Bill Milkowski.
If you are a fan of 1980s jazz-funk, you’ll really enjoy this album. The opening bars of the first number, Strap Hangin’ are deceptive, featuring a cheeky horn and drum fanfare/overture, before transforming into a sizzling hot jazz-funk workout. Jason and Morales lay down a solid groove, while Randy and Michael play the melody in unison. Randy Brecker also plays a long solo, alternating between using an electronic wah-wah effect and open horn. Michael Brecker follows this with a powerful solo full of blasts, shrieks and fast flurries. Despite this being a brand new number (it wouldn’t be released until the following year), the audience responds enthusiastically. Two things strike one on initial listening. The first is how well recorded and mixed the music is. The second is that Onkle Po’s was in the words of Randy Brecker, an intimate venue, and you get the feeling that you’re listening to the music in a small jazz club rather than some vast, soulless arena.
The opening track sets the template for the rest of the album, which consists of nine other tunes. On numbers such as ‘Tee’D Off,’ ‘Sponge’ ‘Inside Out,’ ‘I Don’t Know Either,’ and ‘Some Skunk Funk’ Jason lays down fat, funky basslines; Finnerty plays lots of scorching guitar; Morales keeps the groove going, and although Gray has a more background role, his contribution to the sound cannot be overstated. And as for the Brecker Brothers, what can you say? Both play with great power, energy and finesse, occasionally adding electronic effects to the sound.
Jazz-funk fusion bands are sometimes accused of being self-indulgent and the only sign of this is on the 19-minute ‘Funky Sea, Funky Dew.’ Originally a 6-minute studio track, it’s been greatly expanded to include a Michael Brecker solo that comprises of more than half of the track. And by solo, I mean solo, save the occasional bit of comping by Finnerty. It’s certainly an impressive performance, with Brecker playing both with and without electronic effects, and at one stage, blowing a riff, looping it, and then playing another riff over it. But it’s one of those rare musical occasions where it’s better seen than just heard. But that aside, this is a superb documentation of what was clearly one helluva night at Onkle Po’s.
Reviewed by George Cole
Leopard D77072
Randy Brecker (trumpet and vocals); Michael Brecker (tenor sax); Mark Gray (keyboards); Barry Finnerty (guitar); Neil Jason (bass and vocals); Richie Morales (drums)
Recorded Onkel Po’s Carnegie Hall, Hamburg, Germany 2 July 1980
Mr and Mrs Brecker must have had some amazing musical genes. To have one child who is a virtuoso musician is quite an achievement, but to have two in the form of trumpeter Randy Brecker and the late tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker is something else. Between them, these brothers have played with a Who’s Who of jazz artists including, George Benson, Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock, Chet Baker, Gil Evans, Dave Brubeck, Horace Silver, Tony Williams and Billy Cobham, to name but a few. That’s not to mention the host of pop and rock artists who called upon their services, from Frank Sinatra to Steely Dan.
As well as being top-tier session musicians, the Brecker Brothers also formed some of the tightest, funkiest jazz-funk fusion bands on the planet, as demonstrated on this album. Recorded during a summer European tour in 1980 and recorded at the delightfully named Onkle Po’s Carnegie Hall in Germany, this 2-CD set captures the energy, enthusiasm and virtuosity of band that is on fire. Offering up support are guitarist Barry Finnerty (this was a golden period for Finnerty – the previous year he had played on the Crusader’s hit album Street Life, and not long after this tour, he would join Miles Davis in the studio for the comeback album The Man With The Horn); (the late) keyboardist Mark Gray; bassist Neil Jason and drummer Richie Morales.
In these days when many record companies seem to be run by accountants, it’s heartening to see that there has been no skimping on the packaging. The album comes in a smart-looking Digipak which folds out to reveal two discs with picture labels and several photos of band members. There are also liner notes from Randy Brecker on the back, who recalls the band’s days on the road, as well as a 16-page booklet that has lots of photos of the band taken during this period, and very informative liner notes from music writer Bill Milkowski.
If you are a fan of 1980s jazz-funk, you’ll really enjoy this album. The opening bars of the first number, Strap Hangin’ are deceptive, featuring a cheeky horn and drum fanfare/overture, before transforming into a sizzling hot jazz-funk workout. Jason and Morales lay down a solid groove, while Randy and Michael play the melody in unison. Randy Brecker also plays a long solo, alternating between using an electronic wah-wah effect and open horn. Michael Brecker follows this with a powerful solo full of blasts, shrieks and fast flurries. Despite this being a brand new number (it wouldn’t be released until the following year), the audience responds enthusiastically. Two things strike one on initial listening. The first is how well recorded and mixed the music is. The second is that Onkle Po’s was in the words of Randy Brecker, an intimate venue, and you get the feeling that you’re listening to the music in a small jazz club rather than some vast, soulless arena.
The opening track sets the template for the rest of the album, which consists of nine other tunes. On numbers such as ‘Tee’D Off,’ ‘Sponge’ ‘Inside Out,’ ‘I Don’t Know Either,’ and ‘Some Skunk Funk’ Jason lays down fat, funky basslines; Finnerty plays lots of scorching guitar; Morales keeps the groove going, and although Gray has a more background role, his contribution to the sound cannot be overstated. And as for the Brecker Brothers, what can you say? Both play with great power, energy and finesse, occasionally adding electronic effects to the sound.
Jazz-funk fusion bands are sometimes accused of being self-indulgent and the only sign of this is on the 19-minute ‘Funky Sea, Funky Dew.’ Originally a 6-minute studio track, it’s been greatly expanded to include a Michael Brecker solo that comprises of more than half of the track. And by solo, I mean solo, save the occasional bit of comping by Finnerty. It’s certainly an impressive performance, with Brecker playing both with and without electronic effects, and at one stage, blowing a riff, looping it, and then playing another riff over it. But it’s one of those rare musical occasions where it’s better seen than just heard. But that aside, this is a superb documentation of what was clearly one helluva night at Onkle Po’s.
Reviewed by George Cole
