Michael Brecker is seriously ill...

James Lehmann · 19th August 2005

Legendary saxophonist and composer Michael Brecker has been diagnosed with MDS and is undergoing treatment.

More on his website here including an appeal by his wife for potential bone marrow donors.

Sorry to be typing this very sad news. :-(

phunkyt · 21st August 2005

This is crazy.. Definitely gotta say a prayer for him... He's one of my favorites..

Steps Ahead "In a Sentimental Mood"

Couldn't get any better...

T

kudzu · 21st August 2005

Aw Man, this is shit news....I've worked with Michael many times....The real deal if ever there was one.....A speedy recovery to u Michael....

macr0w · 21st August 2005

A true master if there ever was one.

grufti · 22nd August 2005

bump

More on his website http://www.michaelbrecker.com/ including an appeal by his wife for potential blood and/or bone marrow donors.

DaveC · 22nd August 2005

I was shocked!
I got a mail from Vinnie Colaiuta's site:

Dear Family and Friends,

My husband, Michael Brecker, has been diagnosed with MDS
(myelodysplastic syndrome), and its critical that he undergoes a stem
cell transplant. The initial search for a donor (including Michael's
siblings and children) has not yet resulted in a suitable match.
Michael's doctors have told us that we need to immediately explore ALL
possible options. This involves getting as many people of a similar
genetic background to be tested.

There are some important points to understand concerning this process:

1. The screening involves a blood test only. It can be done very
quickly either at a marrow donation center or at a LOCAL LAB. The cost
is anywhere from $40 to $75 and your insurance may cover it. (In NYC,
you can call Frazier, at the NY Blood Bank, at 212-570-3441, and make
an appointment for HLA typing. It costs $40.00.) Check with your
local blood bank, or go to http://www.marrow.org to find the donor
center nearest you.

2. Your blood typing information can be posted on the international
registry, if you choose, where it would also be available to others in
need of a transplant. BEING ON THE REGISTRY DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO
DONATE, it just means that you may be ASKED to do so. You can take your
name off the registry at any time.

3. Should you be selected as a potential donor for Michael, please
understand that there have been tremendous advances in bone marrow
transplants and the term itself can be misleading. Bone marrow
donation is no more invasive than giving blood. Stem cells are simply
harvested from your blood and then transplanted to Michael.

4. A match for Michael would be most likely to come from those of Eastern
European Jewish descent. If you or anyone you know are in this category
please make a special effort to immediately get tested. Ultimately, you
would be doing something not just for Michael, but for so many more who
are in a similar situation as my husband.

5. You are now part of our internet-based drive for donor testing. If
everyone who receives this can motivate a bunch of their friends to get
tested, and those friends then forward this email to get their friends
to get tested, we will have rapidly expanded the pool of potential
donors. I urge all of you to get tested AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Any local blood center/Red Cross center can assist in organizing a
drive for Michael, although it would be desirable if you can get a
large group, e.g. a synagogue, to sponsor it. Should you have any
questions about this, please don't hesitate to get in touch with
Michael's management office at 212.302.9200 or info@michaelbrecker.com.

Thank you so much for your love and support.

We are so grateful.

Susan xo

Hope things will work out for this guy...

eligit · 22nd August 2005

among all the biching about over production and autotune etc here is the real thing. not my personal fav player but as far as skills? it's all there. i'm sure recording him is nothing but fun. and if he ever comped a solo (which i doubt) it was only because they could not figure out which great take to use and wanted to keep them all....

best wishes to him and his family.

19th August 2005	#1
James Lehmann Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Europe Posts: 2,428 Thread Starter	Michael Brecker is seriously ill... Legendary saxophonist and composer Michael Brecker has been diagnosed with MDS and is undergoing treatment. More on his website here including an appeal by his wife for potential bone marrow donors. Sorry to be typing this very sad news. :-( __________________ James Lehmann Voice-Over Artist - Project Studio Jockey www.jameslehmann.net · Use your real name - keep Gearslutz authoritative, accountable and courteous. · Stop the superlatives madness - just say no to gear threads with the word 'best' in the title. · Words or WAVs? The former are interesting, the latter are convincing.

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21st August 2005	#2
phunkyt Gear maniac Joined: May 2005 Location: LA Posts: 201	This is crazy.. Definitely gotta say a prayer for him... He's one of my favorites.. Steps Ahead "In a Sentimental Mood" Couldn't get any better... T

21st August 2005	#3
kudzu Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2004 Location: Scotland UK Posts: 709	Aw Man, this is shit news....I've worked with Michael many times....The real deal if ever there was one.....A speedy recovery to u Michael....

21st August 2005	#4
macr0w Lives for gear Joined: May 2004 Location: Charlotte N.C. Posts: 1,092	A true master if there ever was one.

22nd August 2005	#5
grufti Gear interested Joined: Dec 2002 Location: CA Posts: 12	bump More on his website http://www.michaelbrecker.com/ including an appeal by his wife for potential blood and/or bone marrow donors.

22nd August 2005	#6
DaveC Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 640	I was shocked! I got a mail from Vinnie Colaiuta's site: Dear Family and Friends, My husband, Michael Brecker, has been diagnosed with MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome), and its critical that he undergoes a stem cell transplant. The initial search for a donor (including Michael's siblings and children) has not yet resulted in a suitable match. Michael's doctors have told us that we need to immediately explore ALL possible options. This involves getting as many people of a similar genetic background to be tested. There are some important points to understand concerning this process: 1. The screening involves a blood test only. It can be done very quickly either at a marrow donation center or at a LOCAL LAB. The cost is anywhere from $40 to $75 and your insurance may cover it. (In NYC, you can call Frazier, at the NY Blood Bank, at 212-570-3441, and make an appointment for HLA typing. It costs $40.00.) Check with your local blood bank, or go to http://www.marrow.org to find the donor center nearest you. 2. Your blood typing information can be posted on the international registry, if you choose, where it would also be available to others in need of a transplant. BEING ON THE REGISTRY DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO DONATE, it just means that you may be ASKED to do so. You can take your name off the registry at any time. 3. Should you be selected as a potential donor for Michael, please understand that there have been tremendous advances in bone marrow transplants and the term itself can be misleading. Bone marrow donation is no more invasive than giving blood. Stem cells are simply harvested from your blood and then transplanted to Michael. 4. A match for Michael would be most likely to come from those of Eastern European Jewish descent. If you or anyone you know are in this category please make a special effort to immediately get tested. Ultimately, you would be doing something not just for Michael, but for so many more who are in a similar situation as my husband. 5. You are now part of our internet-based drive for donor testing. If everyone who receives this can motivate a bunch of their friends to get tested, and those friends then forward this email to get their friends to get tested, we will have rapidly expanded the pool of potential donors. I urge all of you to get tested AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Any local blood center/Red Cross center can assist in organizing a drive for Michael, although it would be desirable if you can get a large group, e.g. a synagogue, to sponsor it. Should you have any questions about this, please don't hesitate to get in touch with Michael's management office at 212.302.9200 or info@michaelbrecker.com. Thank you so much for your love and support. We are so grateful. Susan xo Hope things will work out for this guy...

22nd August 2005	#7
eligit Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,802	among all the biching about over production and autotune etc here is the real thing. not my personal fav player but as far as skills? it's all there. i'm sure recording him is nothing but fun. and if he ever comped a solo (which i doubt) it was only because they could not figure out which great take to use and wanted to keep them all.... best wishes to him and his family.