The Brecker Brothers - 1994 "Out Of The Loop"

Out of the Loop is an album by the Brecker Brothers that was released by GRP Records in 1994. In 1995 the album won the brothers two Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Jazz Performance (now known as Best Contemporary Jazz Album) and Best Instrumental Composition (for Michael Brecker's "African Skies").

On Out of the Loop, Randy and Michael Brecker stepped up to the plate with their second long-player of the '90s, 20 years after their first foray into the jazz-funk-fusion realm. The album is surprisingly strong, and any fears of a paint-by-numbers attempt to cash in on past glories are quickly dispelled with the opening "Slang," which is reminiscent of Amandla-era Miles. Here, as throughout the disc, Michael's sax solo burns with abandon, while brother Randy's trumpet glides across a tastefully smooth and melodic terrain. "African Skies" has a decidedly Yellowjackets feel, with Michael again turning in a remarkably energetic solo turn. The set-closing "And Then She Wept" features Randy's attractive flügelhorn, as does the Eliane Elias-produced "Secret Heart," where Michael's soprano sax and EWI share the spotlight. "Scrunch" is a funky piece of programmed hip-hop over which the brothers Brecker play a riff similar to those they and the Average White Band delivered in the mid-'70s. Both Randy and the late Michael Brecker went on to make names for themselves in the jazz world after fronting their brotherly band in the '70s, earning the respect of critics and jazz fans alike. With Out of the Loop, they made a solid musical statement in a contemporary format, one they helped create and in which they proved to be masters.

Track listing:

1.    "Slang"    Michael Brecker    6:11
2.    "Evocations"    Chris Botti, Michael Brecker    5:16
3.    "Scrunch"    Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, Maz Kessler, Robbie Kilgore    4:28
4.    "Secret Heart"    Randy Brecker, Eliane Elias    5:03
5.    "African Skies"    Michael Brecker    7:46
6.    "When It Was"    Brecker, Brecker, Kessler, Kilgore    4:29
7.    "Harpoon"    Randy Brecker    7:43
8.    "The Nightwalker"    Michael Brecker    8:44
9.    "And Then She Wept"    Randy Brecker    4:53

Personnel:

    Randy Brecker – trumpet, flugelhorn, arranger
    Michael Brecker – soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, EWIs, arranger
    Chris Botti – trumpet
    Maz Kessler – keyboards, rhythm programming, arranger, producer, mixing
    Robbie Kilgore – guitar, keyboards, rhythm programming, arranger, producer, mixing
    Andy Snitzer – bass, drums, keyboard programming, arranger, producer
    George Whitty – bass, keyboards, percussion programming, arranger, producer
    Eliane Elias – keyboards, vocals, arranger, producer
    Dean Brown – guitar
    Dennis Brown – acoustic guitar
    Larry Saltzman – acoustic guitar
    James Genus – bass
    Armand Sabal-Lecco – bass, vocals
    Mark Ledford – backing vocals
    Rodney Holmes – drums
    Steve Jordan – drums
    Shawn Pelton – drums
    Dave Weckl – drums
    Steve Thornton – percussion