The Brecker Brothers - 2012 "The Complete Arista Albums Collection" [8 CD Box]

The Brecker Brothers -- Michael and Randy -- were one of the most successful of the jazz/fusion groups that arose in the 1970s, recording 6 best-selling albums for Arista between 1975 and 1981. Musicians on the records make a jazz/fusion hall of fame including David Sanborn, Steve Gadd, Will Lee, Harvey Mason, Marcus Miller, George Duke, and many more. In 1979 they also participated in all-star shows at the Montreux Jazz Festival. The band was Steve Khan, Tony Levin, Mike Mainieri and Steve Jordan. These two albums are included here as bonuses. None of these albums have ever been released on CD in the U.S.
Randy Brecker contributes liner notes to the set which also includes full discographical info. and rare photos.
The Brecker Bros. have reunited as The Brecker Brothers Reunion Band-- with excellent Italian saxophonist Ada Rovatti keeping it in the family (she is Randy s wife) and ably filling the late Michael's role -- for an all-new studio recording of new material, featuring David Sanborn, Mike Stern, Dave Weckl, and Will Lee (to be released in September).
A new Brecker Bros. Reunion live DVD from the Blue Note jazz club will also be released. Both new releases are on Half Note Records, the label of The Blue Note Jazz club in New York, which will sponsor a record release show the week of Sept. 11-18 in New York. The band will be playing major jazz festivals in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Randy s own profile at the moment is very high. He received 3 Grammy nominations this year.

Trumpeter Randy Brecker and saxophonist Michael Brecker had already shared the bandstand and logged plenty of studio time together before they formed The Brecker Brothers. The siblings stood as a team with Horace Silver s hard bop ensemble, the proto-fusion unit Dreams, and Billy Cobham's early Crosswinds band, as well as on myriad studio dates for a panoply of artists from James Taylor to Parliament.

By 1975 it was time for them to make their own mark. Gathering together some of the cream of the studio players that they were spending considerable time with, including saxophonist David Sanborn and bassist Will Lee, the brothers formed a tight combo that would integrate their taste for jazz, fusion, R&B, funk and pop. Right out of the box, they garnered a hit single, "Sneakin' Up Behind You," from their debut recording, Brecker Brothers, which also included the emblematic "Some Skunk Funk."

Subsequent albums saw name players like guitarists Steve Khan and Hiram Bullock, keyboardist George Duke, bassist Marcus Miller and vocalist Luther Vandross making vital contributions. No matter how commercially oriented the music might veer, the solid playing of both Randy and Michael could be heard. On such albums as the live recordings, Heavy Metal Bebop and the special project Blue Montreux, the brothers fully displayed their extraordinary technical skills and gutsy phrasing. Combining jazz chops and R&B seasoning, both of the Breckers became important stylistic influences on their respective horns.

In retrospect, the Brecker Brothers can be seen as dashing heroes, unafraid to follow wherever their muse lead them no matter what straight-laced critics objected to. From today's eclectic viewpoint, their up front blend of jazz and outright pop sounds was not only ahead of the curve, it was right up to the minute.

This 8 cd box set was a collection I have always hoped would be released.The Brecker Brothers have always been favorites of mine and this set captures the history of the brothers musically. It was during this period that Michael Brecker really grew and developed his style. Any fan of funky jazz and rock influenced jazz will love this release. The last 2 discs of the collection are of live recordings at Montreux Jazz festival in 1978 and I love the collaboration of the Breckers with Mike Maineri, Eddie Gomez and Larry Coryell. The Collection features so many great players in modern jazz from an early standpoint, Will Lee and David Sanborn and many others. This collection is truly a piece of modern jazz history. So thankful that Randy Brecker put this collection together. I love listening to these albums. It brings back so many memories and musically much of the tracks are still fresh today (especially on the album "Detente"). The loss of Michael Brecker a few years ago, definitely left a huge hole in the jazz world. This collection definitely helps to to remember one of the greatest tenor players ever.

In 2001, the Brecker Brothers' Arista releases were reissued on CD by the One Way label, but the discs quickly went out of print. French and Japanese reissues surfaced toward the end of the decade, but this box set from Sony's Legacy division makes them easy to obtain in the U.S. -- that is, if you're willing to shell out for an eight-disc box, priced around $60 at the time of its September 2012 release. The discs are in durable LP replica sleeves, though they are not as high quality as a standard Japanese reissue. All-original artwork, front sleeve and back sleeve, is reproduced, and there's a booklet as well. The set contains not only each one of the Breckers' 1975-1980 Arista releases (The Brecker Bros., Back to Back, Don't Stop the Music, Heavy Metal Be-Bop, Détente, and Straphangin') but the two Blue Montreux releases from 1979 as well. At the time of release, each one of the Brecker titles here (neither Blue Montreux nor Blue Montreux II) was available separately as a digital download.

CD's Included in Box Set:
1) The Brecker Brothers (Arista 1975)
2) Back To Back (Arista 1976)
3) Don't Stop The Music (Arista 1977)
4) Heavy Metal Be-Bop (Arista 1978)
5) Detente (Arista 1980)
6) Straphangin' (Arista 1981)
7) Blue Montreux (Arista 1979)
8) Blue Montreux II (Arista 1979)

Track Listings:

Disc: 1

The Brecker Brothers

  1. Some Skunk Funk
  2. Sponge
  3. A Creature of Many Faces
  4. Twilight
  5. Sneakin' Up Behind You
  6. Rocks
  7. Levitate
  8. Oh My Stars
  9. D.B.B.

Personnel:

    Randy Brecker – trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals on "Oh My Stars"
    Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
    David Sanborn – alto saxophone
    Don Grolnick – keyboards
    Bob Mann – guitar
    Will Lee – bass, vocals on "Sneakin’ up Behind You"
    Harvey Mason – drums
    Chris Parker – drums on "Sneakin’ up Behind You"
    Ralph MacDonald – percussion

Disc: 2

Back To Back

  1. Keep It Steady (Brecker Bump)
  2. If You Wanna Boogie...Forget It
  3. Lovely Lady
  4. Night Flight
  5. Slick Stuff
  6. Dig a Little Deeper
  7. Grease Piece
  8. What Can a Miracle Do
  9. I Love Wastin' Time with You

Personnel:

    Randy Brecker – trumpet, electric trumpet, flugelhorn
    Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone, flute
    David Sanborn – alto saxophone
    Don Grolnick – keyboards
    Steve Khan – guitar
    Will Lee – bass, lead vocals
    Chris Parker – drums
    Steve Gadd – drums (4, 9)
    Ralph MacDonald – percussion
    Sammy Figueroa – percussion (4)
    Rafael Cruz – percussion (4)
    Lew Del Gatto – baritone saxophone (2)
    David Friedman – marimba (6)
    Dave Whitman – synthesizer programmer
    Patti Austin – background vocals (9)
    Allee Willis – background vocals (9)
    Luther Vandross – vocals, vocals arrangement
    Robin Clark – vocals
    Diane Sumler – vocals

Disc: 3

Don't Stop The Music

  1. Finger Lickin' Good
  2. Funky Sea, Funky Dew
  3. As Long As I've Got Your Love
  4. Squids
  5. Don't Stop The Music
  6. Petals
  7. Tabula Rasa

Personnel:

    Randy Brecker – trumpet, flugelhorn, electric trumpet
    Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone, flute
    Will Lee – bass
    Don Grolnick – keyboards
    Doug Riley – keyboards
    Steve Khan – guitar, 12-string guitar
    Jerry Friedman – guitar (1, 5)
    Sandy Torano – guitar (1, 3)
    Hiram Bullock – guitar (2, 3, 4, 6)
    Chris Parker – drums
    Steve Gadd – drums (4, 6)
    Lenny White – drums (7)
    Ralph MacDonald – percussion
    Sammy Figueroa – congas (7)
    Doug and Beverly Billard – background vocals (3)
    Will Lee, Christine Faith, Robin Clark, Josh Brown – background vocals
    Horn Section
        Lou Marini – alto sax
        Alan Rubin – trumpet
        Randy Brecker – trumpet
        David Taylor – bass trombone
        Barry Rogers – trombone
        Michael Brecker – tenor sax
        Lew Del Gatto – baritone sax
    String Section
        Aaron Rosand, Guy Lumia, Paul Gershman, Harry Lookofsky, Sanford Allen, Ariana Bronne, Harold Kohon, Matthew Raimondi, Peter Dimitriades – violins
        Lamar Alsop, Richard Maximoff, Alfred Brown – violas
        Jesse Levy, Richard Locker – cellos

Disc: 4

Heavy Metal Be-Bop

  1. East River
  2. Inside Out
  3. Some Skunk Funk
  4. Sponge (Live Version)
  5. Funky Sea, Funky Dew (Live Version)
  6. Squids (Live Version)

Personnel:

    Randy Brecker – Trumpet and Keyboards
    Michael Brecker – Tenor Saxophone
    Barry Finnerty – guitars, guitorganiser, background vocals
    Terry Bozzio – drums, background vocals
    Neil Jason – bass, lead vocals
    Sammy Figueroa – percussion
    Rafael Cruz – percussion
    Additional musicians on "East River"
        Kash Monet – handclaps, percussion, backing vocals
        Paul Shaffer – Fender Rhodes
        Victoria – tambourine
        Jeff Schoen – backing vocals
        Roy Herring – backing vocals
        Allan Schwartzberg – drums
        Bob Clearmountain – handclaps

Disc: 5

Detente

  1. You Ga (Ta Give It) - The Brecker Brothers feat. D.J. Rogers & Carl Carlwell
  2. Not Tonight - The Brecker Brothers feat. Carl Carlwell
  3. Don't Get Funny With My Money
  4. Tee'd Off
  5. You Left Something Behind
  6. Squish
  7. Dream Theme
  8. Baffled
  9. I Don't Know Either

Personnel:

    Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone, flute
    Randy Brecker – trumpet, flugelhorn
    Airto Moreira – percussion
    Hiram Bullock – guitar
    Paulinho Da Costa – percussion
    Steve Gadd – drums
    Mark Gray – keyboards
    Don Grolnick – keyboards
    Neil Jason – bass
    Steve Jordan – drums
    Ralph MacDonald – percussion
    Marcus Miller – bass
    Jeff Mironov – guitar
    D.J. Rogers – vocals
    David Spinozza – guitar
    Carl Carlwell – vocals

Disc: 6

Straphangin'

  1. Straphangin'
  2. Threesome
  3. Bathsheba
  4. Jacknife
  5. Why Can't I Be There
  6. Not Ethiopia
  7. Spreadeagle

Personnel:

    Randy Brecker – trumpet, flugelhorn
    Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
    Barry Finnerty – guitar
    Mark Gray – keyboards
    Marcus Miller – bass
    Richie Morales – drums
    Don Alias – percussion
    Manolo Badrena – percussion

Disc: 7

Blue Montreux

  1. Blue Montreux - Arista All Stars
  2. Rocks - Arista All Stars
  3. I'm Sorry - Arista All Stars
  4. Magic Carpet - Arista All Stars
  5. Buds - Arista All Stars
  6. Floating - Arista All Stars
  7. The Virgin And The Gypsy - Arista All Stars

Personnel:

Guitar – Steve Khan (tracks: 1-6), larry Coryell (tracks: 2)
Tenor Saxophone – Michael Brecker (tracks: 1-3, 5-6)
Trumpet – Randy Brecker (tracks: 1,2,5-7)
Vibraphone, Synthesizer [Oberheim] – Mike Mainieri
Bass – Eddie Gomez (tracks: 1-6)
Bass, Chapman Stick – Tony Levin (tracks: 1-6)
Drums – Steve Jordan (tracks: 1-6)
Piano, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Keyboards – Warren Bernhardt

Disc: 8

Blue Montreux II

  1. Funky Waltz - Arista All Stars
  2. Candles - Arista All Stars
  3. Uptown Ed - Arista All Stars
  4. Love Play - Arista All Stars
  5. Cloud Motion - Arista All Stars

Personnel:

    Acoustic Bass – Eddie Gomez (tracks: A3)
    Drums – Steve Jordan
    Electric Bass – Tony Levin (tracks: A2, B1, B2)
    Electric Bass [Electric Stick] – Tony Levin (tracks: A1)
    Electric Guitar – Steve Khan (tracks: A1, A2, B1, B2)
    Electric Guitar, Soloist – Larry Coryell (tracks: A1)
    Keyboards – Warren Bernhardt (tracks: A2, B1, B2)
    Percussion – Mike Mainieri (tracks: A2)
    Piano – Warren Bernhardt (tracks: A1, A3)
    Saxophone – Michael Brecker (tracks: B2)
    Soprano Saxophone – Michael Brecker (tracks: A2)
    Synthesizer [Mini-moog] – Mike Mainieri (tracks: B1)
    Synthesizer [Synthe-vibe] – Mike Mainieri (tracks: B1)
    Tenor Saxophone – Michael Brecker (tracks: A1, A3)
    Trumpet – Randy Brecker (tracks: A1, B2)
    Vibraphone [Electric] – Mike Mainieri (tracks: A2, A3, B1, B2)