Michael Brecker
American jazz saxophonist and composer on over 900 albums.
Michael Brecker, born March 29, 1949, in Philadelphia, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer whose career spanned four decades. He played on more than 900 albums, both as a leader and a sideman, and collected 15 Grammy Awards. In 2007, the DownBeat Hall of Fame inducted him, and three years earlier Berklee College of Music had awarded him an honorary doctorate. He died in New York City on January 13, 2007, from complications of leukemia, after being diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome in 2005.
Brecker grew up in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania, in a Jewish household. His father, Bob, a lawyer who played jazz piano, introduced him to jazz early. He started on clarinet at six, switched to alto saxophone in eighth grade, and settled on tenor saxophone as his main instrument during his sophomore year of high school. After graduating from Cheltenham High School in 1967, he spent that summer at Berklee College of Music. That fall, he followed his older brother Randy to Indiana University, where he formed a jazz-rock group with trumpeter Randy Sandke. Other students called the band Mrs. Seamon's Sound Band, after a dormitory official who disliked longhaired students.
The band became finalists at the spring 1968 Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival but were disqualified for their version of The Doors' "Light My Fire." They also played an outdoor benefit on campus for presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy. After that semester, the band accepted a management offer and moved to Chicago. There, drugs and a love triangle led to a suicide, bringing police to the manager's apartment. Everyone except Brecker and Sandke—who were not present—was arrested. According to Sandke, these events caused psychological trauma that later contributed to Brecker's substance abuse.
During the fall 1968 semester at Indiana University, Brecker formed a trio with the drummer from Mrs. Seamon's Sound Band and played gigs at a church basement club called the Owl, some of which were recorded. He dropped out before the semester ended, spent a month in Mexico City, then returned to Philadelphia to play with Eric Gravatt, Billy Paul, and others.
In 1969, Brecker moved to New York City, where he built a reputation as a dynamic jazz soloist. At age 20, he made his mark as a member of the jazz-rock band Dreams, which included his brother Randy, trombonist Barry Rogers, and drummer Bi
- born
- March 29, 1949, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- died
- January 13, 2007, New York City
- field
- Jazz saxophonist and composer
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Tenor saxophone, EWI, Brecker Brothers, extensive session work on over 900 albums
Quick Facts
- Background
- non_vocal_instrumentalist
- Birth Name
- Michael Leonard Brecker
- Birth Date
- 1949-03-29
- Birth Place
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
- Death Date
- 2007-01-13
- Death Place
- Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
- Occupation
- Musician · composer
- Years Active
- 1969–2006
- Past Member Of
- Brecker Brothers · Steps Ahead
- Instrument
- Tenor saxophone · drums · EWI
- Genre
- Jazz · post-bop · jazz fusion · funk · R&B · rock
- Website
- michaelbrecker.com
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Michael Brecker was born to a Jewish family in Philadelphia and raised in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania. He began studying clarinet at age six, moved to alto saxophone in eighth grade, and settled on tenor saxophone in his sophomore year of high school. After graduating from Cheltenham High School in 1967, he spent that summer at Berklee College of Music and then followed his older brother Randy to Indiana University, where he formed a jazz rock group called Mrs. Seamon's Sound Band. The band was a finalist at the 1968 Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival but was disqualified for their interpretation of The Doors song 'Light My Fire'. Following a move to Chicago, drugs and a love triangle led to a suicide and police arrests; Brecker was not at the scene. These events reportedly contributed to his later substance abuse. As a session musician, Brecker played on Billy Joel's *The Nylon Curtain* (1982) and *The Bridge* (1986).
Reader's Guide
Michael Brecker first made his mark as a member of the jazz-rock band Dreams from 1969 to 1972, which included his brother Randy. He then worked with Horace Silver and Billy Cobham before co-founding the Brecker Brothers, a jazz-funk band that stayed together from 1975 to 1982. In 1977, he founded the Seventh Avenue South jazz club with his brother. Brecker was in great demand as a soloist and sideman, appearing on nearly 900 albums. He performed with bands ranging from mainstream jazz to mainstream rock, including notable work with James Taylor, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Lou Reed, Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, John Lennon, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, and many others. He also recorded with leading jazz musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Charles Mingus, Jaco Pastorius, McCoy Tyner, Pat Metheny, and Elvin Jones. In the early 1980s, he was a member of NBC's Saturday Night Live Band. After co-leading Steps Ahead, he released his eponymous debut solo album in 1987, marking a return to traditional jazz and featuring the EWI. He continued recording as a leader through the 1990s and 2000s, winning multiple Grammy Awards. In 2001, he toured with Hancock–Brecker–Hargrove, dedicated to John Coltrane and Miles Davis; the concert CD won a Grammy in 2003. He died in 2007 from complications of leukemia following a 2005 diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome.
Did You Know?
- Brecker appeared on more than 900 albums as a leader and sideman.
- He received 15 Grammy Awards and was inducted into the DownBeat Hall of Fame in 2007.
- He played tenor saxophone on two Billy Joel albums: An Innocent Man (1983) and The Bridge (1986).
- He was a member of NBC's Saturday Night Live Band during the early 1980s.
More in Jewish jazz musicians 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record