Mike Stern: Standards (& Other Songs) (1992)

Guitarist Mike Stern, best-known for playing rock-oriented fusion and in more commercial settings, surprised many listeners by recording an album dominated by standards. Actually, there are three originals included among the 11 pieces, but Stern also digs into such songs as "Like Someone in Love," "Moment's Notice," Chick Corea's "Windows," and "Straight No Chaser." Among Stern's sidemen on this fairly straight-ahead but adventurous set are trumpeter Randy Brecker, Bob Berg on tenor, and keyboardist Gil Goldstein. This little-known release is well-worth acquiring.

Tracklist

1. Like someone in love (6:40)

2. Source (1:48)
3. There is no greater love (9:13)
4. L Bird (5:48)
5. Moment's notice (4:41)
6. Lost time (6:46)
7. Windows (6:28)
8. Straight to chaser (5:26)
9. Peace (5:17)
10. Jean Pierre (1:44)
11. Nardis (7:38)
Standards (& Other Songs)
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Chris Minh Doky: The Nomad Diaries (2006)

Chris Minh Doky is one of the most exciting and most talented bassists in the world today and he has a strong following in the European jazz/electronica scene.

Inspired by the life of a traveling musician and conceived as a series of short stories, renowned Danish bassist Chris Minh Doky's new Blue Note album "The Nomad Diaries" marries his trademark melodic jazz with contemporary electronica, drawing on Doky's work as a producer and his love of artists such as Bjork, Nils Petter Molvaer and Ryuichi Sakamoto. Framed by glitchy electronics and ambient soundscapes Doky's beautiful melodic bass playing and improvisations draw heavily on European jazz. The appearance of US heavyweights such as Mike Stern and Randy and Michael Brecker (with one of his last studio recordings just prior to his death) make The Nomad Diaries a true trans-Atlantic jazz album and one of the years most exciting releases.

Tracklist:
01. September (for Tanja) (06:33)
02. Last Call (05:03)
03. If I Run (04:50)
04. Blog : Tracking (M.Krog) (00:35)
05. Satellite (05:26)
06. Blog : Frida + Milo (01:25)
07. The Scanner (04:50)
08. Blog : Rise + Shine (01:43)
09. Life in The Mirror (G.Whity) (06:03)
10. Where R U? (04:38)
11. I Skovens Dybe Stille Ro (04:46)
12. Blog : Noon - bonus track (01:14)
13. Teen Town - bonus track (J.Pastorius) (04:59)
14. Blog : Display - bonus track (00:35)
Personnel:
CHRIS MINH DOKY- bass, keyboards, piano, voice
RUICHI SAKAMOTO (1), KASPER WILLAUME- piano (5,11)
JACOB CHRISTOFFERSEN- piano (2)
GEORGE WHITY- keyboards
MIKE STERN- guitar solo (2), phone message (10)
OZ NOY- guitar and sound vibes (2,10)
MICHAEL BRECKER- tenor sax (10), EWI (3)
'KO' PERRY- vocals
RANDY BRECKER- trumpet (7)
MADS B.B. KROG- electro programming
Nomad Diaries at Amazon
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Metro: Special Edition North Sea Jazz Festival (2008)

Metro was formed in 1994 by jazz guitarist Chuck Loeb (Steps Ahead) and pianist Mitchel Forman (who has played with John McLaughlin and Wayne Shorter, among others). The two established names came across each other regularly when they worked in the bands of Stan Getz and Bill Evans and they decided to join forces. In the six recordings Metro has made with a series of changing bassists, the band's sound has developed from contemporary jazz to fusion. Although the music is complex with a great deal of improvising, it always sounds funky. In Metro Special Edition the band is supplemented by an unbelievably select company: trumpeter Randy Brecker, saxophonist Eric Marienthal and drummer Dave Weckl.

Tracklist:
1. Metrocafe - Rio Frio
2. Cross Currents
3. The Standard for Michael Brecker
4. Dirty Dogs
5. Field of Diamonds
6. Bing Bang Boom
Personnel:
Chuck Loeb (Guitar);
Randy Brecker (Trumpet);
Mitch Forman (Keyboard);
Eric Marienthal (Sax);
Gerald Veasley (Bass);
Dave Weckl (Drums)

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Dennis Chambers: Outbreak (2002)

A formidable, ferocious and ultra-funky presence behind the kit in such celebrated ensembles as Parliament-Funkadelic, Steely Dan, Santana and the Brecker Brothers as well as incendiary fusion outfits led by guitarists John Scofield, Mike Stern and John McLaughlin, Dennis Chambers is everyone's choice for all world drummer. On "Outbreak", his Stateside debut as a leader, Dennis slams home some solid grooves in the company of such heavyweights as guitarists Scofield, Jon Herington, Nick Moroch and Dean Brown, bassists Will Lee, Gary Willis, Matthew Garrison and his old P-Funk rhythm tandem mate Rodney 'Skeet' Curtis, saxophonists Michael Brecker, Bobby Malach and Aaron Heick, trumpeter Randy Brecker and long time colleague and keyboardist Jim Beard, who produced the New York session.

Tracklist:

1. Roll Call

2. Otay

3. Groovus Interruptus
4. Paris on Mine
5. In Time
6. Plan B
7. Outbreak
8. Baltimore, Dc
9. Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothin'
Outbreak
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Jeff Lorber Fusion: Now Is The Time (2010)

Keyboardist and producer Jeff Lorber has wrapped up production of a new CD that delves back into his early catalog and reinvents some of his compositions from the Jeff Lorber Fusion heyday. The CD, Now Is the Time, is Lorber’s follow-up to 2008’s Heard That. The new CD will be released June 1.

By the late 1970s, Lorber had become a prominent figure in the new movement known as jazz fusion – a marriage of traditional jazz with elements of rock, R&B, funk and other electrified sounds. Lorber and his band, Jeff Lorber Fusion, first honed their craft in the Portland, Ore., club scene and rapidly expanded their reach to a national and international audience.

This new incarnation of the Jeff Lorber Fusion includes bassist Jimmy Haslip (who co-produced with Lorber and Bobby Colomby), saxophonist Eric Marienthal, trumpeter Randy Brecker, guitarist Paul Jackson Jr., and drummers Vinnie Colaiuta and Dave Weckl.

“We all had a vision of what we wanted this record to be,” says Lorber, who points to a recent European tour with many of these same musicians – and the positive response that resulted from it – as the primary catalyst for the album. “We wanted a return to the sound of the Jeff Lorber Fusion, but informed by everything I’ve learned since then. All of a sudden, people seem to be interested in hearing that again. They’re ready to hear musicians who can really play, really stretch the envelope with their technique, with their songwriting, and with harmonic structure.”

Tracklist:

01. Pixel (Jeff Lorber-Jimmy Haslip-Bobby Colomby) – 5:23

02. Black Ice (Jeff Lorber) 4:22

03. Rain Dance/Wanna Fly (Jeff Lorber-Irene Bauza-Frankie Biggs) – 4:13

04. Las Rosas (Jeff Lorber) – 4:00

05. Water Sign(Jeff Lorber-Irene Bauza-Frankie Biggs) – 3:56

06. Mysterious Traveller (Wayne Shorter) – 4:55

07. Curtains/Before We Go (Jeff Lorber-Irene Bauza-Frankie Biggs) – 4:17

08. Dr. Moy (Jeff Lorber-Steve Dubin) – 3:07

09. Sugar Free (Jeff Lorber-Irene Bauza-Frankie Biggs) – 4:49

10. Chinese Medicinal Herbs (Jeff Lorber) – 4:24

11. Sumatra (Jeff Lorber) – 4:11

Now Is the Time
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Breckers Brothers Out of the Loop (1994)

OUT OF THE LOOP won the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Performance, and "African Skies" won the Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition. "African Skies" was also nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo.

With OUT OF THE LOOP, the Brecker Brothers once again affirm their spot at the front of modern jazz. Besides presenting the expected mixed plate of jazz and funk, with this album the Brothers definitively prove that hip hop and swing are of the same groove.

The Breckers' trademarks abound. Solid composition, shiny production and superb talent qualify OUT OF THE LOOP as vintage Breckers with performances that rise to the strength of the arrangements. Their characteristic rhythmic twists and harmonic turns are held in check by a powerful yet sensitive rhythm section. Bassist James Genus links burning percussion and drums to the Brother's pure melodic expression and colorful harmonic invention.

What jumps up from OUT OF THE LOOP is its succesful incorporation of hip hop sounds into jazz. Amidst today's deluge of hip hop artists appropriating the token jazz riff, it's inspiring to hear the Brecker Brothers show how it's done on tracks like "Scrunge" and "When It Was."

In a world of jazz purists, easy listening, and confused genres, The Brecker Brothers have thankfully spun a loop of their own.

Recorded at Skyline Studios, New York, New York.

Personnel: Eliane Elias (vocals, keyboards); Armand Sabal-Lecco (vocals); Larry Saltzman (guitar, acoustic guitar); Robbie Kilgore (guitar, keyboards); Dean Brown (guitar); Dennis Brown (acoustic guitar); Michael Brecker (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, EWI); Randy Brecker (trumpet, flugelhorn); George Whitty (keyboards, percussion programming); Maz Kessler (keyboards); Chris Botti, Andy Snitzer (drums, keyboard programming); Steve Jordan , Rodney Holmes, Shawn Pelton (drums); Steve Thornton (percussion); Mark Ledford (background vocals).

Out of the Loop

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Billy Cobham: Drum N Voice - All That Groove (2001)

This 2001 Cobham effort was recorded in Milan with a bunch of fine musicians: Michael and Randy Brecker, Eddie Gomez and several famous Italian jazz players (Rossana Nicolosi - bass, Marco Fada - percussion, Lino Nicolosi - guitar, Fabrizio Bosso - trumpet, flugelhorn and others). Contains classics as Red Baron and I Want You Back (Ken Gold/Micky Denne) along with new material which sounds absolutely sensational and groovy.

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Drum N Voice (RS) / Drum N Voice (DF) @ 320K

Harvey Mason: Marching in the Street (1975)

Harvey Mason is considered one of the finest drummer on the soul and jazz scene today. In 1975, after his work with Herbie Hancock's band, the Headhunters, he sign to Arista Records as a solo artist and record this instrumental fusion to vocal orientated dance music LP. Personnel: Maxine Willard Waters (vocals), Randy Crawford (vocals), Wah Wah Watson (guitar), Dave Grusin (keyboards), Paul Jackson (bass), Hubert Laws (flute), Bobby Bryant (trumpet), Herbie Hancock (keyboards), Ernie Watts (saxophone), Jim Gilstrap (vocals), Bennie Maupin (saxophone), Lee Ritenour (guitar) and many others.

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Marching in the Street (RS) / Marching in the Street (MU) @ 320K

Bill Evans/Randy Brecker: Soul Bop Band Live [2 cd]

During the summers of 2004 and 2005, saxophonist Bill Evans and trumpeter Randy Brecker co-led the Soul Bop Band on tours. The music that they created was funky, heartfelt, and full of strong jazz solos. With a top-notch and versatile rhythm section comprised of guitarist Hiram Bullock, keyboardist David Kikoski, bassist Victor Bailey, and drummer Steve Smith, the sextet performed consistently stirring music. This two-CD set has plenty of heated instrumentals along with occasional ballads, all of it original music coming from either Evans, Brecker, or Bullock. Unfortunately a few of the selections have vocals from Brecker that are primitive at best and an acquired taste although the words to Bullock's "Greed" are worthy. If it were not for the singing, this two-fer would be rated higher, but it does contain some of the best playing of the era from Bill Evans and Randy Brecker, who consistently bring out the best in each other.

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Live - Part 1 - Part 2 (RS) / Part 1 - Part 2 (HF) @ 320K

John Scofield: Groove Elation (1995)

John Scofield has continued to grow and evolve year by year. This 1995 set is quite blues-oriented, sometimes boppish and fairly laid-back, almost sounding like a Jimmy Smith or Groove Holmes date from the 1960s. Larry Goldings (who doubles occasionally on piano) is almost as significant in the ensembles as the leader/guitarist, and has become the most important arrival on organ since Joey DeFrancesco and Barbara Dennerlein. Many of the tunes (all Scofield originals) use parade-like rhythms propelled by Idris Muhammad and Dennis Irwin (particularly the eccentric "Peculiar" and "Groove Elation"), and the interplay between the two lead voices is quite appealing. Scofield is quite unselfish as far as taking solo space goes (he clearly enjoys the light funky grooves set by Goldings), and the results are quite appealing.

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Groove Elation (RS) / Groove Elation (HF) @ 320K

Various Artists: To Grover with Love (2002)

Arguably, only David Sanborn has had as much influence on the current crop of smooth-jazz sax stars as Grover Washington Jr., and on this tribute album, we get ample proof of Washington's impact. It's a testament to his talent that Gerald Albright, Dave Koz, and Everette Harp, playing three different horns--alto, soprano, and tenor, respectively--all sound exactly like the G-Man. His sway over the three younger players is so dominant on many of their own recordings, particularly Albright's, that the licks that are nods to Washington are indistinguishable from the originals. All of the instrumental tracks on this 14-song set play like Grover Washington Jr.'s greatest hits, with outstanding arrangements by the producer, keyboardist Jason Miles. On a couple of numbers, the arrangements are stronger than the performances. Tracks that work best are Regina Belle, Steve Cole, and George Duke doing "Just the Two of Us"; Herbie Mann working out on "Mister Magic"; and the Brecker Brothers teaming up with Joe Sample and Joey DeFrancesco on "Loran's Dance." Ronnie Laws and Richard Elliot, two players not influenced by Washington, also offer interesting performances. --Mark Ruffin

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To Grover with Love

Don Grolnick: Weaver of Dreams (1990)

Don Grolnick was a busy session pianist/keyboardist who played on many kinds of dates, including jazz fusion and pop. But for a brief period in the late 1980s and early '90s, he detoured into playing post-bop. Weaver of Dreams was the first of his two CDs for Blue Note, featuring an all-star septet including the Brecker Brothers, Bob Mintzer, Dave Holland, Peter Erskine, and Barry Rogers. His intricate opener, "Nothing Personal," suggests the influence of George Russell, with its rapid-fire lines and unpredictable accents on trumpet and bass clarinet, along with the composer's tasty solo. There's a bit of reverb added to the unified trumpet and tenor sax in his "Or Come Fog," which touches briefly on its source, "Come Rain or Come Shine." Mintzer's wild bass clarinet is a highlight of the brisk setting of the standard "I Want to Be Happy," while the foot-patting treatment of "Weaver of Dreams" is a feature for the rhythm section alone. Weaver of Dreams lapsed from print, only to briefly reappear in a short-lived two-CD reissue. This is easily the finest recording led by Don Grolnick, who passed away in 1996.

Musicians:

Don Grolnick : piano

Michael Brecker : tenor saxophone

Randy Brecker : trumpet
Bob Mintzer : bass clarinet
Barry Rogers : trombone
Dave Holland : bass
Peter Erskine : drums
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Weaver of Dreams

Randy Brecker: 34th N Lex (2002) mp3 @ 320K

Randy Brecker is one of the most proficient trumpeters of his generation and brilliantly shows why he has achieved this stature on 34th N Lex. The 11-song paean to his Manhattan, NY, neighborhood is a potent, in-your-face program of hard bop and funky jazz with the likes of his brother, Michael Brecker, on tenor sax; David Sanborn on alto saxophone; Ronnie Cuber on baritone saxophone; and the great trombonist Fred Wesley. The set opens with the free funk and hard bop fusion of horn blasts and honks in different registers, which depict the hustle and bustle of "34th N Lex." The ensemble pulls this off without a hitch and clearly conveys the energy associated with this street corner. On "All 4 Love," Randy Brecker adds a mute to his trumpet and gives a cool tone to the swaggering funk of Gary Haase's programming and urban vocals supplied by J Phoenix. The funk gets funkier on "Let It Go," a party jam with vocal effects and prime horn playing that lends itself to the younger generation but clearly represents the talent of jazz masters in an awesome blowing session. "Foregone Conclusion" is a beautiful ballad that features outstanding cool harmonizing and modal synchronicity that is reminiscent of Miles Davis in his heydey. As a whole, Randy Brecker clearly outdoes himself on this one and it's clearly evident that these musical masters came to play. (118M)
34th N Lex

Vince Seneri: The Prince's Groove (2008)

A masterful keyboardist who has been performing for over twenty years, Vince "The Prince" Seneri releases a scorcher of an album with The Prince's Groove, definitely one of the best jazz organ recordings around. Seneri, who was given the nickname by his peers, plays the Hammond B3 organ with a unique sound and style, making him one of the top B3 players of his generation. Influenced by many other great organists, it was Jimmy Smith who left the biggest mark on Seneri's music.

Seneri selects a repertoire of classic standards and originals designed to showcase the talented cast of musicians he has assembled for this grooving session. He reunites with guitarist Paul Bollenback and flautist Dave Valentin, with whom he has performed before, adding other artists including legendary trumpeter Randy Brecker and saxophonist Houston Person. Person only appears on Hoagy Charmichael's "The Nearness of You," but leaves quite an impression. Blowing with heartfelt passion, he leaves Seneri in a backup role until half way through the piece, when the organist weighs in with a short solo.

Track listing: Renegade Man; Dearly Beloved; Sway (Quien Sera); The Stinger; The Nearness of You; Overdrive; Prince's Groove; Passion Dance; Walkin'.

Personnel: Vince Seneri: Hammond B3 organ; Randy Brecker: trumpet & flugelhorn (1,4,6-8); Paul Bollenback: guitar; Dave Valentin: flute (3, 8); Houston Person: tenor saxophone (5); Richie Flores: percussions (3, 8); Gary Fritz: percussions (1, 2, 4-7, 9); Buddy Williams: drums.

Randy Brecker: Hanging in the City (2001) mp3 @ 320K

Randy Brecker is essentially a fine hard bop trumpet soloist, but one versatile enough to fit into nearly any setting, including in the pop world, funk bands, and electronic fusion. He studied classical trumpet and attended Indiana University. Brecker was with Blood, Sweat & Tears in 1967, and spent 1968-1969 playing with Horace Silver's quintet. He also appeared with the big bands of Clark Terry, Duke Pearson, Frank Foster, and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis orchestra. After playing with the early fusion group Dreams in 1969, he worked with Larry Coryell's Eleventh House and Billy Cobham, in addition to keeping very busy with studio work. He teamed up with Michael Brecker in the popular funk-oriented Brecker Brothers (1974-1979); in the '80s he often collaborated with his wife, pianist/vocalist Eliane Elias; and in the '90s he toured with the reunited Brecker Brothers. But Randy Brecker still sounds best when in a freewheeling bebop combo, and fortunately he occasionally records in that type of spontaneous setting. (122MB)