http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Sat, 7 Apr 2007 10:58:28 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/01/19/102116.php#comment-572056 My first introduction to Michael Brecker was in listening to him play on Steve Kahns' 1977 album "The Blue Man" on a track called "Eye Over Autumn (For Folon)",and being absolutely astonished that a then 28yr old Brecker could play like that...with such an immaculate sense of space,time, rythm, musical vocab,and raw power. Since then,cd's like Straphanging (The Brecker Bros),Wide Angles,Tales From the Hudson,and Time is of the Essence have been added to my collection and widened my Michael Brecker listening experience. Oh yes,there's also his playing on Metheny's 80/81,or John McLaughlin's album The Promise,some very challenging listening(and playing) there,and I recommend people check it out if they get a chance. Brecker was a player like no other. I am very sadened at Breckers' passing,and his death is a great loss to the jazz world. I have no doubt he's rockin' on somewhere "up there" 572056@blogcritics.org Sat, 7 Apr 2007 10:58:28 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/01/19/102116.php#comment-557552 Rest in peace Bill. 557552@blogcritics.org Thu, 8 Mar 2007 14:23:18 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/01/19/102116.php#comment-515892 Michael Brecker blurred that line between commercial and artistic - between jazz and pop. Had he been content at remaining a session star for everyone from AWB to Zappa his contribution would have been astounding, but with the continuation of the Brecker Brothers' line of musical development into 'Tales from the Hudson' and his amazing Quindectet's 'Wide Angles' (what a big band in this day and age?) Michael Brecker provided us all with depth, humour, fun and thought throughout his music. 515892@blogcritics.org Mon, 22 Jan 2007 02:13:21 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/01/19/102116.php#comment-514841 Michael Brecker always sounded good, no matter the style. He was the kind of artist that you could pick out from the rest when you heard him because he was always fresh and full of personality. His improvised solos are the kind you want to hear over and over again until you are able to play them, if only mentally, with him. He brought jazz sophistication to pop, and made fusion a serious art form. I'll miss him for sure. 514841@blogcritics.org Fri, 19 Jan 2007 14:32:29 EST