Jazz Articles about Randy Brecker

About Randy Brecker

Album Review

Hal Galper Quintet: Live At The Berlin Philharmonic 1977

Read "Live At The Berlin Philharmonic 1977" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
January 20, 2021

It must be gratifying to accomplish everything you set out to do. Pianist Hal Galper says he has done just that. And, after a career that included work with trumpeter Chet Baker and saxophonists Cannonball Adderley and Stan Getz, along with a ten year stint in saxophonist Phil Woods' band (1980-1990), followed by ten years of touring and recording with his own trio, that claim would have been a valid one then, before the dawn of the new millennium. But ...

Album Review

Ptah Williams, Larry Kornfeld, Rob Silverman: Rhythm City

Read "Rhythm City" reviewed by Jim Worsley

by Jim Worsley
November 29, 2020

Herbie Hancock's “Chameleon" is about as familiar as any jazz tune could be. If you are going to cover such a classic, you best have your reimagining skills ship shape and polished. A trio consisting of pianist Ptah Williams, drummer Rob Silverman, and bassist Larry Kornfeld was up to the challenge with this and several other well-known songs. The three St. Louis jazzmen delivered “Chameleon" with a funked-up keyboard stretch which focuses on the complete work, not just bouncing off ...

Album Review

David Broza: En Casa Limon

Read "En Casa Limon" reviewed by Kyle Simpler

by Kyle Simpler
November 22, 2020

If any instrument captures the spirit of Spain, it is the guitar. Performers such as Tomatito and Paco De Lucia have helped bring flamenco guitar to a global audience, and both have recorded albums at the Casa Limón Studios in Madrid. This studio has a certain mystique about it, and is where David Broza recorded En Casa Limón . Broza has a well-established career as a singer-songwriter, but this album highlights his talent as a musician. Broza was ...

SoCal Jazz

Randy Brecker: Fusion Pioneer Still Blazing The Trails

by Jim Worsley
November 21, 2020

One of the greatest musicians of the past half century, Randy Brecker, continues to impress with his compositions, his playing, and his endurance. The famed trumpeter has released no less than eight records over the past couple of years! They are all unique on to themselves with only Brecker's familiar and sweet sound in common. That sound is unmistakable, yet ever evolving. He is as current as much as he is a legend. Brecker continues to move forward with the ...

Album Review

Randy Brecker and Eric Marienthal: Double Dealin'

Read "Double Dealin'" reviewed by Jim Worsley

by Jim Worsley
September 14, 2020

It can be difficult for two giants to share space without colliding into each other. It alternatively can be a bold mix of dynamic forces. Double Dealin' (Shanachie, 2020) robustly falls into the second category. It took many years for Randy Brecker and Eric Marienthal to finally find the right project to come together on. The long wait is rewarded with energetic performances in this funk and groove extravaganza. The title track kicks the record off with more ...

SoCal Jazz

Randy Brecker & Eric Marienthal: Aces

by Jim Worsley
September 8, 2020

Randy Brecker certainly needs no introduction. Neither does Eric Marienthal. But the fact that they have joined forces on a new record is something to talk about. That's exactly what we did, and then some. We went deep into the record, when we weren't busy having a laugh or two. Then there were memories of Michael Brecker and a glorious time past. My gratitude to them both for this fun and enlightening conversation. I hope you enjoy it as much ...

Album Review

Al Di Meola: Across the Universe

Read "Across the Universe" reviewed by Doug Collette

by Doug Collette
May 12, 2020

Al Di Meola's Across The Universe reaffirms how ideally the music of the Beatles translates into the eclectic style he forged early in his career. It's not as if the multi-instrumentalist/composer hadn't already made the point with All Your Life (inakustik, 2013), but this second, similarly conceived album is not only worth savoring repeatedly on its own terms, but as a reliable point of departure to rediscover both the source material and Di Meola's own discography. The mix ...