Michael Brecker dies at 57

[Recording David]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/14/ny...816&ei=5087%0A

[goldphinga]

Very sad news indeed.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/...it-Brecker.php

Just read this, another great has been lost... :o(

RIP

[pramrod]

SAD- brecker was an EXTREMELY nice guy- humble, down to earth, a real gentleman.
one quick story about Michael that you all might enjoy- i was playing a double bill with Brecker (he played first, we played second). he was doing a solo saxophone concert- his first one he said- and was playing along beautifuly. at one point during a tune, he played a bit, then stopped and snapped his fingers for a bit, then played again a bit, then snapped his fingers again for a bit. over the snapping he explained to the audience- "i'm trading 4's with myself"- hilarious (to a jazzbo i guess...). may he RIP- he was a great guy and a spectacular musician.

[MBishopSFX]

I just got this email of very sad news on Michael Brecker:


TENOR SAXOPHONIST MICHAEL BRECKER DIES AT 57


Internationally renowned tenor saxophonist and composer Michael Brecker – an 11-time Grammy Award winner – died of leukemia on January 13 at age 57. Brecker was afflicted with MDS, myelodysplastic syndrome, a bone marrow disorder.


As a result of his harmonic and stylistic innovations, Brecker was the most studied contemporary instrumentalist in music schools throughout the world. During his acclaimed career, Brecker delighted millions through recordings and performances with a virtual “Who’s Who” of jazz and pop giants including Herbie Hancock, Paul Simon, Quincy Jones, Joni Mitchell, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Aretha Franklin, Parliament Funkadelic, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Pat Metheny, Aerosmith, George Benson, Frank Sinatra, David Sanborn, Chris Botti, Rick James, Frank Zappa, Harry Connick, James Brown, Dave Grusin, Ringo Starr, Steely Dan, Dave Brubeck, John Lennon, Lou Reed, Michael Bolton, Carly Simon, Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, Billy Joel and Elton John.


Although he was very sick, Brecker completed a final album just two weeks ago, which will be released on Heads Up International in the spring of 2007. The as-yet-untitled recording includes pianists Herbie Hancock and Brad Mehldau, guitarist Pat Metheny, drummer Jack DeJohnette and bassist John Patitucci.


Darryl Pitt, Brecker’s longtime friend and manager, says the saxophonist was very enthusiastic about the final work. According to Pitt, “In addition to the love of his family and friends, his work on this project helped keep him alive and will be another jewel in his legacy.”


“Michael Brecker was such a major influence on today’s generation of jazz musicians and students of jazz.” says Dave Love, President of Heads Up. “This is a great loss for the music community, but his saxophone stylings will live on through all jazz saxophone players. He was an inspiration to so many young players.”


Brecker was recently nominated for a GRAMMY Award in the category of Best Jazz Instrumental Solo for Some Skunk Funk with his brother Randy Brecker and the WDR Big Band, released on Telarc in June 2006.


There is no known single cause of MDS and the only curative therapy is a blood stem cell (bone marrow) transplant. In an attempt to help Brecker, a massive donor drive was organized, and thousands of people were encouraged to enter the National Marrow Donor Program Registry [www.marrow.org or 800-MARROW-2]. Each year, approximately 9,000 people die in the U.S. while waiting for a bone marrow donor.


Brecker is survived by his wife, Susan; his children, Jessica and Sam; his brother, Randy; and his sister, Emily Brecker Greenberg. Memorial services are planned.

[ArcCirDude]

Words are useless..... But, thanks for the music, Michael.

[edham]

Hey Mike!

The news hit yesterday afternoon across new york.
Half the musicians in town were either playing shows together or at the IAJE convention so the word traveled fast. It definately changed the vibe in town.

It was a day of rememberences and great stories. Some really funny stories too.
The weight of Michael's records, solos, and tunes will only continue to grow over the years. And the transcriptions of his solo's will remain a daunting tribute to his genius. Few musicians will EVER take a solo on the level of Brecker.

Ed Hamilton

[theblue1]

I'm sad to hear of his passing.

[True North]

That is a very heavy loss. I knew he was ill for quite some time. What a brilliant artist, he has left quite a legacy behind him and will be missed.

[Jamz]

That is such a tragedy! I knew he was sick and read the letter his wife wrote in an attempt to find a doner. Does anyone know if they were able to find one or was it a case of too too late?

[Rickard]

I think we all knew it was coming but it is very sad just the same. He was a big influence to me and will not be forgotten.

[resound]

Jamz,

No suitable doner was ever found. They attempted the procedure with a family member who was only a partial match but unsuccessfully.

This truly is a sad day. His playing had a major impact on me in my younger years, instilling an appreciation that extends to this day. I hope, at least, that his family takes some solace in just how truly great his impact on the music would is (note: not was, *is*) and how many others were so positively affected by his life.

[ron florentine]

Michael RIP.....You will be greatly missed........ thank you for all your beuatiful music you brought into the world!


Ron Florentine
Soundswest Studio

[Jim Easton]

What a great loss to music.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/14/ny...0A&oref=slogin

[Remoteness]

This information saddens me greatly.

Michael Brecker, was one of the most excellent musicians of our life time.

He'll be sorely missed…

They must have really needed him for a smokin' jam up there!

[Mark Cattano]

Another warrior has ridden off into the sunset. I've known many players who recorded with Michael, and everyone only had good things to say about him. Sad. He's got a few kids, also.

Mark Cattano
Magneto Studios
www.heedmusic.com
www.myspace.com/markcattano

[Phil Cibley]

And looking at Monday's paper, I see that Alice Coltrane is gone too.
Bad weekend.

[henryrobinett]

Yeah. I've been messed up all weekend. I have friends that were in NYC for IAJE wo echoed the earier sentiment that the whole city was effected.

RIP. Come back and kick some serious ass again Michael!

[GPl]

Very sad indeed. Definately will be picking up that albumn. Heard yesterday also through the grape vine....

[bongo]

When i recorded Randy in September, he said Michael was just starting to practise again. I guess he was preparing for his final album. Sad.
Here's some words from my good freind Dave Liebman:

PASSINGS: MIKE and ALICE

I write this a few hours after Mike's funeral, Monday Jan 15. It was as you could imagine quite moving and quite sad. He leaves a wife, two teenage children, a sister and brother Randy, who took his greatest solo today when he spoke so honestly about Mike at the funeral. I know these guys for forty years. One of his last records was with Joe Lovano and myself in Saxophone Summit with his tune as the title track appropriately titled “Gathering of Spirits.”
As well his last official gig was with that band at Birdland in March 2004. We were particularly close in the early days. Mike took over my first loft when I moved on and stayed there ten years with the same piano and continuing the same research and practice vibe. He and I were close mainly as a consequence of our love and respect for John Coltrane’s music. But more important than the music was the message that Trane left to all of us concerning humility, humanity and honesty. Music after all is in the final analysis just sound without emotion or feeling until the artist possesses the notes so the listener, if they care to and put the effort in, feels something. To move the listener, you have to bring something to the music that is inside you. Michael had plenty inside him and through music, he found a way to let people know what he was thinking and feeling. Besides inspiring so many saxophonists to pursue this deep musical tradition that we all love and respect, he personally helped many people involved in addictive behavior to find and cure themselves. And even at the end, he realized that though he wanted his disease to stay quiet, by asking for blood donors he was helping to save others, which is exactly what has happened. This is the essence of selflessness.

As Randy said in his eulogy, the passing of Alice Coltrane within the same twenty four hour period is significant on several levels, specifically in relation to Mike because of the Coltrane connection. It was the late Trane period that we (meaning Michael, Steve Grossman, Bob Berg, Randy, myself and others) were hooked on and tried to emulate in the early days. The fact that these two passings occurred during the IAJE convention in NewYork and became common knowledge in the last few hours of the weekend was in some ways fortuitous since such a large part of the community was by circumstance together.

The last person I saw as I was leaving the hotel was Roy Haynes. His final thought to me was exactly that, meaning this is the time for the community to pull together and keep the faith. We will do our best Sergeant Haynes.

[thedoner]

Recently, I caught up with a good friend of mine who was out with Michael Brecker on his last tour. As a huge fan of Michael's for a very long time, one of the first things I asked him was what it was like to work with him, having never had the pleasure myself. Now this guy (my friend) is one of the most amazing musicians I know and has toured with and recorded with some of the world's best. He said that Michael was by far the most inspiring and impressive musician he'd ever worked with, and that getting to share a stage with him was an experience he would treasure for a lifetime.
I was not all that surpised by his response...Michael was a true force in music, and a sheer God of the saxophone. As a side man or a solo artist, I don't know of anyone who's solos can evoke the raw emotions that his can.
Thank you Michael for the amazing musical gifts you've given to this world; through them you will live on forever.
Gordon

[Remoteness]

MICHAEL BRECKER MEMORIAL
Tuesday, February 20th
Town Hall
123 West 43rd Street
6:00-7:30pm
General Admission
Public Invited
Doors open at 5.15pm


.

[laser]

Originally Posted by thedoner

Michael was a true force in music, and a sheer God of the saxophone. As a side man or a solo artist, I don't know of anyone who's solos can evoke the raw emotions that his can.
Thank you Michael for the amazing musical gifts you've given to this world; through them you will live on forever.
Gordon

Amen.

RIP, Michael, and another big thanks from an admiring musician.

On another sad note, I was thinking of Michael's moving solo at the end of Dan Fogelberg's "Same Old Ange Syne" and decided to finally check out who played that incredible bass track on the song. I went to Dan Fogelberg's website and read that Dan has advanced cancer.

On a positive note: I was very impressed to read that Dan Fogelberg did all the vocals (normal for him), bass, guitars, piano and keys on the song.

I hope God can give extra grace and mercy to a man who could craft such a tremendous piece of music.

Laser