Brecker Brothers

Brecker Brothers were a jazz music duo consisting of Michael Brecker and Randy Brecker. Michael played saxophone, flute, and EWI, and Randy played trumpet and flugelhorn.[1]

Brecker Brothers
Background information
OriginNew York City, New York, U.S.
GenresJazz fusion, jazz-funk
Years active1974–2007
LabelsArista, BMG, GRP, Novus
Associated actsHorace Silver, Dreams, Players Association, Frank Zappa
Past membersRandy Brecker
Michael Brecker

Randy, the older brother, became famous as an original member of the group Blood, Sweat & Tears.[1] He appeared on their debut album Child Is Father to the Man in 1968. Michael first appeared on record supporting Randy on his solo debut album, titled Score, which was released in 1969. In 1970 and 1971 the brothers were members of the group Dreams who recorded two albums for Columbia Records.

The brothers frequently played together, and individually, as session musicians on recordings by other artists.[1] They were heard on Todd Rundgren's hit "Hello It's Me", which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1973. Other notable appearances include Parliament's Mothership Connection and the debut album of the Japanese fusion group Casiopea.

The brothers were encouraged to start their own group by an executive at Arista Records. Between 1975 and 1981 they released six albums on Arista as The Brecker Brothers. The group had a hit single with "East River" in 1979.[1] It reached No. 34 in the UK Singles Chart.[2]

The duo backed up Frank Zappa on the live album Zappa in New York. The recordings were made during a special appearance of the brothers with members of the Saturday Night Live Band at Zappa concerts at the Palladium in December 1976.

The brothers appeared with Quincy Jones on the 1984 Frank Sinatra album L.A. Is My Lady and on Eric Clapton's 1986 album August. Between 1992 and 1994 the Brecker Brothers released two more albums under their own name on GRP Records.

Both brothers also had prolific recording careers as leaders of their own ensembles.[1] Their collaboration ended in 2007 when Michael Brecker died from leukemia.

Musicians who played with the Brecker Brothers band include Airto Moreira, Barry Finnerty, Bob Mann, Chris Parker, David Sanborn, Dean Brown, Dennis Chambers, Don Alias, Don Grolnick, Doug Riley, George Duke, George Whitty, Harvey Mason, Hiram Bullock, James Genus, Lenny White, Marcus Miller, Mike Stern, Neil Jason, Ralph MacDonald, Sammy Figueroa, Steve Gadd, Steve Jordan, Steve Khan, Terry Bozzio, Will Lee, and Jun Fukamachi.

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums
  • Heavy Metal Be-Bop (Arista, 1978)
  • The Bottom Line Archive Series - The Brecker Brothers (Bottom Line, 2015) - recorded 1976
  • Live and Unreleased (Leopard, 2020) - recorded 1980[3]

Compilation albums

As sideman
  • Jack Wilkins, Merge (Chiaroscuro, 1996) - recorded in 1977
  • Jack Wilkins, Reunion (Chiaroscuro, 2001)

References
  1. Colin Larkin, ed. (2003). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 84. ISBN 1-85227-969-9.
  2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 77. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. "THE BRECKER BROTHERS – LIVE AND UNRELEASED". Leopard. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
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